Preview
Membra Jesu Nostri
by Dietrich Buxtehude
Coro & Ensemble 1685 del Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi di Ravenna
Martina Weber, Antonello Manzo, Elisa Moretta, Rolando Moro viole da gamba
conductor Antonio Greco
visual project curated by Accademia di Belle Arti di Ravenna
in collaboration with Teatro Alighieri
The cycle of seven cantatas Membra Jesu Nostri by Buxtehude, the greatest German composer of the generation that preceded Bach, is a meditation inspired by the contemplation of the Crucifix, where each cantata addresses a part of Jesus’ crucified body – feet, knees, hands, side, breast, heart and face – as suggested by the titles Ad pedes, Ad genua, Ad manus, Ad latus, Ad pectus, Ad cor, Ad faciem. The stanzas are drawn from the medieval Rhytmica oratio, traditionally attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux. The lyrics, embodied by the voices and sculpted by the instruments of a small ensemble, encourage a meditation on the Passion of Christ, a type of worship based on the practice of venerating a sacred image or icon. On stage are students and teachers from the Ravenna Polo delle Arti, who put technique at the service of meditation and spirituality.
