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    • January 8, 2009 - Vox Luminis concert in Varazdin Baroque Evenings - a review by Andrew Benson-Wilson in Early Music Review - December 2008

      Varazˇdin Baroque Evenings, Croatia (16-29 September)
       
      "........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.  It also made a change to come across four sopranos who managed to avoid getting louder as they went higher.  The main solo roles of the evening went to Robert Buckland and Zsuzsi Tóthe in Carissimi's Historia di Jephte – both fine singers.  I also liked the contributions from soprano Annelies Brants.. Another impressive aspect of Vox Luminis was that there was no obvious director.  Not only do I find the lack of a conductor more visually appealing, allowing the focus to be on the performers, but with groups that work in this way I detect a tighter and more focussed approach to music-making.  The occasional moments of silence within works, for example, were all beautifully timed, and consort entries were all perfect.  They also survived what could well have been a pretty nerve-wracking experience for a group of young singers waiting on stage to start one of their later pieces – the arrival of Emma Kirkby who, rather than slipping in at the back as she intended, was escorted to the very front row!  It says much for the singers that they took this in their stride.  And it says even more for Emma that she not only came to hear this group after a very long day of rehearsal, workshop teaching and giving her own concert, but also spent so much time talking with the group afterwards.
       
      ...There are a number of prizes given by a Festival jury for performers in the Festival.  Since writing this review I have heard that Vox Luminis won the Ivan Lukacˇic´ Prize for the highest interpretational achievement of an ensemble, with Ensemble Nobile getting the 2nd prize for the best artistic interpretation. The Jurica Murai Prize for the best interpretation went to the ensemble Le Tendre Amour.  As readers will have judged from my own reviews, these awards were all well deserved.  It was also entirely appropriate that they were awarded to three of the younger groups of performers...."  Andrew Benson-Wilson

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