ST. LUKE PASSION (ΠΑΘΗ ΚΑΤΑ ΛΟΥΚΑΝ)

ST. LUKE PASSION (ΠΑΘΗ ΚΑΤΑ ΛΟΥΚΑΝ) an oratorio in 4 parts (2008)
for tenor, byzantine singer, 3 madrigal singers, 3 byzantine singers, one oriental female singer, kemençe, ney, qanun, and chamber ensemble.

“The Greek Tsoupaki with her surprising melodies joins in the actual need for sublimation.
…. The fusion between antique and new and western and exotic sound-worlds give to the Lucas Passion a position that reduces the work of her neospiritual colleagues simply to narrow-minded constructions”
– Volkskrant (Daily newspaper)

“An icoon as inspiration.
The Lucas Passion of the composer Calliope Tsoupaki is more relevant to Monteverdi than Bach.”
– Het Parool (Daily newspaper)

“Calliope Tsoupaki composed the Jesus role for the voice and abilities of the tenor Marcel Beekman, who experienced his finest hour during the premiere. Often very high and penetrating he sang his words aiming directly at the soul of the audience. At the end came one of the most moving moments: a long silent lament on the Ney, a simple wooden shepherd’s flute.”
– NRC Handelsblad (Daily newspaper)

Composed for Ioannis Arvanitis and members of his Byzantine choir, Marcel Beekman, Egidius Kwartet, Harris Labrakis (ney), Bassem Alkhouri (qanun), Neva Ozgen (kemençe), Nieuw Ensemble conducted by Ed Spanjaard

Text: fragments from Saint Luke Gospel & fragments from hymns by Romanos the Melodist [Byzantine Greek]
Commissioned by the Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst
Premiered: 5 June 2008, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ during the Holland Festival 2008.
Duration: ca. 120 min. (including one interval)
published by: Donemus

Parts:
1. Hymnos (Ύμνος)
2. Aria (Άρια)
3. Threnos (Θρήνος)
4. Pathos (Πάθος)

“With Lucas Passion I went back in the time of the 6th century when in Rome the Gregorian and Byzantine chant were melting together in a fascinating musical idiom. The echo of that kind of music sounds in my Passion…”
– Calliope Tsoupaki in VPRO Gids