Magnificat

About

This concert traced a sacred musical journey across eras in the unique acoustic and visual setting of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The orchestra and choirs were placed deep in the nave beneath the great organ, creating an intimate, hushed ambience enhanced by the cathedral’s blue and golden evening light. Designed as a continuous triptych performed without interruption, the program bridged medieval chant, Baroque counterpoint, and 20th-century sonorities. Stravinsky’s Chorale Variations paid homage to Bach by reframing Baroque writing in a modern orchestral palette, while Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum reflected a profound study of Gregorian chant, oscillating between ancient and contemporary harmonies. The grand spatial scale of the cathedral underlined the jubilant and majestic character of these works, culminating in Bach’s Magnificat, which called for a large ensemble and showcased the vocal virtuosity of the Maîtrise Notre-Dame de Paris.