Bruno Procopio and Batavia Madrigal Singers (Printemps Français 2013): A Magnificent Duet of Two Countries!

They come to lighten up Bandung.

That's the first thing that came across my mind after I saw Batavia Madrigal Singers in Printemps Français 2013's booklet. BMS will collaborate with French composer, Bruno Procopio. I think, it will give a new experience for BMS to explore their capability and challenge themselves with other conductor, Bruno Procopio.

The concert took place at Gereja Katedral Santo Petrus, Bandung on Sunday, 2nd June 2013. It was a crowded situation because you can see choristers from all over the choirs in Bandung came. I really thank you for IFI because the concert it's free. :)

Batavia Madrigal Singers.

BMS at Arezzo 2010

Batavia Madrigal Singers (BMS) is one of the leading vocal ensembles in Indonesia. BMS was founded in 1996, and from the very beginning, Avip Priatna has been the conductor and music director. With Avip Priatna, BMS has kept a wide range of choral music: from Renaissance to modern, traditional to contemporary, sacred to profane.
BMS has performed periodical concerts and participated in many national and international prominent events where BMS experience in performing various compositions has been proved.
On 2012, BMS became the Grand Priza Winner in International May Choir Competition (Prof. G. Dimitrov) - Varna, Varna Province, Bulgaria. Because of the winning, they became the representative of Bulgaria in European Choral Grand Prix (EGP) in Arezzo on 2013.

Bruno Procopio.

Bruno Procopio (born in 1976)

A Brazillian born and a graduate of the Conservatoire de Paris, is a rising young talent, both on the harpsichord and as a conductor. His work focuses on Brazillian composers of the colonial period and Europeans who found the limelight outside fo the 'Old Continent'. For Printemps Français, he will direct Batavia Madrigal Singers through an eclectic programme bringing together both the sacred and the profane with works from France, Portugal, and poplar music from his native Brazil.

As usual like any other concerts, a MC opened the concert and explained the concert that night especially the song. Here is the song list.

The Program.

Marcos Portugal (Portugal: 1762-1830): Missa Grande

Jewel of the Brazillian Sacred Music. He actualized all the tenderness and aspect of great composers such as Mozart and Rossini.

Clement Janequin (France: 1485-1558): A ce mois de mai. L' Alouette. La Guerre (Bataille de Marignan)

Polyphonic Profane Songs with humors and poems. Acapella

Anonymous: Muié Rendéra

Popular music from North Eastern Brazil. Acapella

Mamão (Brazil: 1938 - ): Tristeza Pé no Chão

Brazillian Popular Music. Acapella

Heitor Villa Lobos (Brazil: 1887-1959): Rosa Amarela

Brazillian Traditional Music. Acapella

The opening song for the concert was Missa Grande. It contains 18 songs. It is a long works to hear especially if you are not used to hear choir singing or choral sound. Actually, I really don't know when it will finish. You have to be sufficient knowledge in Musica Sacra. I just know about Missa Brevis though. In this works, Bruno didn't conduct directly to BMS. He played the Organ. He just gave signal to BMS from where he sat. It really showed that you have to have a strong bond to your conductor. Yes, of course, BMS could conquer the 1st session magnificently. After that, the audiences had a break for about 10 minutes. It's time to refresh the ears from Missa Grande. LOL

2nd session formation

The interval didn't take too long. They came back again with the standard formation, SATB and conductor, Bruno Procopio, in front of the choristers. In 2nd session, they sang profane songs. For the opening, they sang French Renaissance songs. It was wonderful but I think there was a problem. It was the echo in the church. It really ruined the Renaissance sound. It was noisy. But the recordings didn't sound so badly :)
The next song is the song from Brazil. In this song and afterwards, they really enjoyed themselves singing it. For some choristers, the like swayed their hips a  little bit and made a happy expression. I really enjoyed this session. I really enjoyed the concert. And of course, they got the standing ovation. C'est super magnifique!!

The last but net least, the flowers bouquet giving. Monsieur Louis gave bouquet to the star of the night, Bruno Procopio and Avip Priatna, the true conductor of BMS, gave bouquet to choristers' representative, Pharel Silaban. Waw! Such an honor for Pharel.

with Mas Pepi

What is a concert if you don't have a footage of yourself. So, I got a picture with one of the Bass, Rainier Revireino. LOL


P.S. The series of event  in Printemps Français 2013 in Classical Music did not stop here. You may want to enjoy the concert of Orchestre Des Champs-Elysées on 13th June 2013. Be there and don't be late!

"The only thing better than singing is more singing."

-Ella Fitzgerald-