Par PART ARVO. Arvo Pärt received a commission to compose this work from the Agenzia Romana per la preparazione del Giubileo, that was, the body responsible for the organisation of the Holy Year 2000 in Rome. Pärt was asked to write a work to be performed by the Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia. Pärt was inspired by the story of the martyrdom of Saint Cecilia and he embarked on a search for a suitable text in 1999. He eventually found one in Latin at the seminary in the Austrian city of Graz: it is the Breviarium Romanum (S. Ceciliae Virg. et Mart. , Lectio iii for 22 November) which contains a concise description of the saint's life. An old translation ofthe text into Italian has been located in the library of the Monastero di Bose in Northern Italy. The world premiere of Cecilia, vergina romana took place in Rome on 19 November, that is, three days before the Saint Cecilia feast on 22nd (repeat performances on 20 and 21 November). Arvo Pärt has dedicated the work to the conductor, Myung-Whun Chung as well as the Chorus and Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia./ Répertoire / Choeur SATB et Orchestre

Par PART ARVO. Following an initiative by Princess Caroline of Monaco/Hannover to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the reign of his Highness, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, composer Arvo Pärt was commissioned to compose a work for choir and orchestra. The finished work, Cantique des degrés, received its premiere on 19 November 1999 during a special service in the Cathedral of Monte-Carlo in the presence of the royal family. It was performed by the Orchestre Philharmonique and the opera choir, both of Monte-Carlo, and conducted by Estonian conductor Tõnu Kaljuste. Cantique des degrés is based on Psalm 121 - Je lève mes yeux vers la montagne - and sung in Latin. Pärt's settingcomprises eight sung verses of the psalm that lead to a final, hymn-like instrumental coda. The tonalities of the composition progress regularly, ascending stepwise from verse to verse (cantique des degrés); but despite this episodic character, the overall mood of the sequences remains consistent. In this way, the two contrasting basic elements of the piece - dynamic motion and balanced repose - are united creating a harmonious whole./ Répertoire / Choeurs SATB et Orchestre

Par BELLINI VINCENZO. Norma raconte l'histoire tragique de deux amants, un consul romain et une prêtresse druide élevé dans un contexte de guerre et les enchevêtrements nationales. Connu pour ses longues lignes mélodiques, la pureté du style et un 'extatiques déroulement de la sonorité,' il reste, malgré ses difficultés énormes pour les chanteurs, l'un des opéras les plus fréquemment exécutées et enregistrées. Autorité édition standard. Liste des personnages, des scènes. Instrumentation. Dover (1994) réédition de la musique à partir d'une édition standard./ Répertoire / Choeur SATB et Orchestre