Le Lagrime di San Pietro: Orlandi de Lassus 1532-1594

The Tears of St Peter


Lassus passed his last years in a state of religious melancholy, and the 21 motets of the Le Lagrime sequence are a direct reflection of his state of mind at the time. The seven voice sequence deals with the inner conflict of Peter on his realisation that he has betrayed Christ.

"In a way, the mind and condition of Man is summed up in St Peter the Apostle: 'Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church' is balanced with 'Thou shalt deny me thrice'. Certainty is mirrored by guilt. The Catholic tradition is shot through with this dichotomy. Tu es Petrus by Palestrina is one face of the coin; its reverse is the Lagrime of Lassus." -- Bruno Turner

Lassus wrote in his old age that he regarded the prolific virtuosity of his youthful music as the tendrils and fruit of a young vine, and he wondered whether it could not be considered that in the end the gnarled and split old vine, though producing less, might not bring forth a liquor more sweet to mankind. He hoped, before withdrawing from the world, that his last music might be like the light of day, which is most beautiful just before sunset.

This performance was part of the Easter in Rome series

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Programme

    Le Lagrime di San Pietro: Orlandi di Lassus 1532-1594

    i. Il magnanimo Pietro
    ii. Ma gli archi
    iii. Tre volte haveva
    iv. Qual a l'incontro
    v. Giovane donna
    vi. Cosi talhor
    vii. Ogni occhio del signor
    viii. Nessun fedel trovai
    ix. Chi ad una ad una
    x. Come falda di neve
    xi. E non fu il pianto suo
    xii. Quel volto
    xiii. Veduto il miser
    xiv. E vago d'incontrar
    xv. Vattene vita va
    xvi. O vita troppo rea
    xvii. A quanti gia felici
    xviii. Non trovava mia fe
    xix. Queste opre e piu
    xx. Negando il mio signor
    xxi. Vide homo

9pm*, Saturday 30 March 1991
Adam Concert Room, School of Music
Victoria University of Wellington
$20 / $15
* pre-concert talk at 8.30pm

dir. Simon Ravens

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