Lila Hajosi: Mezzo-Soprano, Direction, Arrangements.
Marie Pons: Mezzo-Contralto
Julie Azoulay : Viola
Travelling between the Western Middle Ages, the Byzantine heritage and theEastern Christian tradition, the Irini Vocal Ensemble highlights the different figures of the Virgin and her cult, which finds a particular resonance in the Mediterranean.
From the almost erotic celebration of the Young Girl in Bloom, reminiscent of ancient pagan rites, to the lamentation of the Mother, the earthly woman confronted with the death of her only child, to the praise of the Queen of Heaven, the universal Mother interceding for humanity, it is an image of the woman that is at once one and multiple that we see taking shape through the epiclesis of Mary.
The programme presents Greek, Lebanese, Syriac and Cypriot Orthodox chants, extracts from the Vermeil Book of Montserrat (14th century, Spain), and Italian Lauds from the 13th century.
From one shore and one sound to the other of the "Mare Nostrum", the Irini Ensemble (whose name means "peace" in Greek), invites you to discover the diversity and musical richness of the Marian cult in the Mediterranean.