Critically acclaimed choral group The Rose Ensemble will perform “Land of Three Faiths: Voices of Ancient Mediterranean Jews, Christians, and Muslims” on Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Kracum Performance Hall of the Weitz Center for Creativity at Carleton College. The program will explore the language, spirituality, and cultural exchange between the musical traditions of these three faiths in late medieval Spain.
This performance is free and open to the public.
The result of years of intensive research and training, “Land of Three Faiths” is a fascinating exploration of sacred and classical musical traditions. Both entertaining and enlightening, the program is steeped in the rich history of the Abrahamic faiths, combining edgy improvisation and exotic vocal styles. Along with guest artists soprano Nell Snaidas and multi-instrumentalist Zafer Tawil, the Rose Ensemble will present an evening of rhythmic cantigas, Hebrew cantillation, and Gregorian chants combined with the mystical world of Sufi poetry.
Founded in 1996 and based in St. Paul, Minn., the Rose Ensemble has achieved an international reputation as a premiere American early music group. Each performance illuminates centuries of rarely-heard repertoire, bringing to modern audiences research from the world’s manuscript libraries as well as fresh perspectives on history, culture, politics, and spirituality from around the globe. With 10 critically acclaimed recordings and a diverse selection of concert programs, the group has thrilled audiences across the United States and Europe with a repertoire spanning 1,000 years and over 25 languages.
The Rose Ensemble is the recipient of the 2005 Chorus America Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence, and first prize winner in both sacred and secular music categories at the 2012 Tolosa Choral Contest in Spain (part of the European Choral Grand Prix). The group’s concerts and recordings have been called “first class” (Neuss-Grevenbroicher Zeitung), “impassioned and brightly alive” (Choral Journal), and “engaging…satisfying” (Gramophone).
The Rose Ensemble can be heard regularly on American Public Media and the European Broadcasting Union. Learn more at the Rose Ensemble website.
This event is sponsored by the Carleton College Departments of Medieval & Renaissance Studies, Religion, and History; Arts@Carleton; The Humanities Center; the Forkosh Lecture Series in Judaic Studies; and the Wender Lecture Series on Cultural Understanding. For more information, including disability accommodations, call (507) 222-4202. The Weitz Center for Creativity is located at Third and College Streets in Northfield.