Artist
Vox Luminis
The ensemble varies in its composition, with solo voices, continuo and additional instrumentalists as required. The members are young professional musicians who were selected from leading Early Music ensembles, and their varied nationalities make Vox Luminis a truly European ensemble. The group has been praised for the balance and color of its sound.
Vox Luminis gave its first performance at the IMEP conservatoire in Namur, Belgium, in 2004. Since its creation, Vox Luminis has appeared in The Netherlands (The Hague, Delft), Belgium (Echo festival, Festival de Wallonie, the Salle Philharmonique in Liège, ...), in France (Festival d’Ambronnay, Polyfollia festival, Combrailles Bach festival, …), Denmark (Copenhagen) and Germany (Ratingen Bachtage festival). At the end of 2007, Vox Luminis released its first professional recording for the Ricercar label.
Featuring four vocal works by Domenico Scarlatti, this first opus was very warmly received by reviewers and public alike. It received the ‘Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik’ in Germany and was selected as ‘Editor’s Choice’ for Gramophone magazine, ‘Muse d’or’ for the Muse Baroque magazine and ‘Four stars’ for Le Monde de la Musique. In October 2008, Vox Luminis received in Croatia the ‘Yvan Lukacic prize’ for the Best Performance during the 38th ‘Varazdin Baroque Evenings’ festival.
Vox Luminis’s forthcoming projects include participation in many European festivals, such as the Wallonie and Roisin festivals in Belgium, Ambronnay, Bach en Combrailles and Vézélay festivals in France. Other plans include tours of Israel and Mexico, a return to Croatia, and new recordings for Ricercar.
Press release
…However, the young Dutch-based vocal group Vox Luminis offers something far more profound, rewarding and intoxicating. The singing is particularly beautiful or impassioned ( according to what the music and text requires) ; in Stabat Mater, « Sancta mater, istud agas » is astonishing for its spellbinding sonority and intelligent judgement. Not only are the group’s voices gloriously expressive while retaining clarity and immaculate coherence, but also the inclusion of two superbly played sonatas (performed on the organ) and some lesser known music…make this an unusually attractive, imaginative and rewarding experience.
David Vickers, Gramophone, Editor’s Choice
Vox Luminis’s performance preserves all the essential qualities of the work by maintaining absolute clarity of both line and texture.
Robert Levett, International record review
"........The late evening concert was given by Vox Luminis, an extremely impressive young vocal group that started in the Namur conservatory in Belgium but with members from many different countries. The ten singers (together with organ, theorbo and viola da gamba continuo) gave a programme of Scarlatti (Te Deum laudamus, Salve Regina and Stabat mater) and Carissimi's Historia di Jephte (St Nicolas, 23 Sept). Their singing was outstanding, both individually and in consort – indeed, it was refreshing to come across singers who can sing solo and in consort with equal skill.
Andrew Benson Wilson, Early Music Review
Listen
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Vox Luminis Te Deum Laudamus (Stabat Mater)
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Domenico Scarlatti, Stabat Mater dolorosa I