Let Him Kiss Me - Settings from the Song of Songs

Conductor: Franz M. Herzog
Accordion: Stefan Heckel
Jewish synagogue singing: Aron Saltiel

The "Shir Ha-Shirim" - also known as the "Song of Songs" or "Song of Solomon" - ranks among the Bible's most remarkable texts: a lyrical drama depicting the erotic longing and heavenly bliss of two lovers, whose speakers and episodes meet as if in a dream.

Vocalforum Graz juxtaposes Renaissance and early Baroque compositions with contemporary works in this concert. Traditional Jewish songs and recitative passages lend the texts their own character; accordion interludes connect the individual programme sections.

Programme: Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): from Flos Campi I; Traditional synagogue song from Thessaloniki; Pablo Casals (1876-1973): Nigra sum; John Barber (*1980): Sicut lilium; Ralph Vaughan Williams: from Flos Campi IV; Traditional synagogue song from Thessaloniki; Claudio Monteverdi (1537-1643): Pulchrae sunt genae tue; Traditional synagogue song from Izmir; plus further works by Gjeilo, Sandström, Vaughan Williams and others.

The concert will be recorded by Deutschlandfunk Kultur. With the kind support of the Dieter Fuchs Foundation.