Cappella Romana @ NGA

Charles T. Downey, Cappella Romana complements ‘Heaven and Earth’ exhibit at National Gallery of Art
Washington Post, October 29, 2013

Live in Greece, Cappella Romana (2012)

A new exhibit at the National of Gallery of Art, called “Heaven and Earth,” is the museum’s first devoted to Byzantine art, all drawn from Greek collections. A concert surveying a broad range of Byzantine sacred music, performed by Cappella Romana on Sunday night, made the connection between sound and image. The selection of music, representing composers from the 15th century to the present, revealed a tradition both rooted in the past and yet still growing.

The ensemble of seven men and five women was, at its best, singing traditional Byzantine chant. The sound was robust, especially from the men; a full-throated tone that has buzz and resonance, ornamented with the cantillation-like scoops and trills typical of this music. [Continue reading]

Cappella Romana
National Gallery of Art

SEE ALSO:
Philip Kennicott, National Gallery’s ‘Heaven and Earth’ showcases Byzantium’s artistic riches (Washington Post, October 25)