La Cetra — Membra Jesu Nostri

La Cetra Barockorchester and Vokalensemble—named after a group of Vivaldi's violin concertos—is mainly dedicated to Italian baroque music. Yet their credo also applies to regular excursions to the North, where there are also vast amounts of fantastic music that should be made known to concert audiences. In the 2023 Easter season, La Cetra Vocal Ensemble and Baroque Orchestra, conducted by Carlos Federico Sepúlveda, turn to one of the greatest composers of the 17th century, deeply revered not least by Bach: Dietrich Buxtehude and his masterpiece "Membra Jesu nostri patientis sanctissima" (The holiest members of our suffering Jesus) from 1680. It includes seven cantatas in Latin, each of which is dedicated to a particular part of the crucified Savior's body: the feet, knees, hands, side, chest, heart, and face. Formally, they all have the same structure—an instrumental movement (the sonata) followed by a chorus and three arias separated by ritornellos. Each cantata is rounded off by the repetition of the chorus. Verses from the Old Testament, combined with excerpts from a medieval devotional poem, form the textual basis of this wonderful work.
In Buxtehude's cantata cycle, which lasts about an hour, you will experience La Cetra's ensembles in all facets of their artistry—making music as soloists as well as in groups, simple and at the same time artful, masterfully impressive, and intimately personal. And although Buxtehude's name is widely known—especially thanks to his pupil Bach—it is still a special challenge today to bring this great music to a wide audience.
Tickets are 20-70 for adults, half-price for students, and CHF 5 for kids.
Website
lacetra.ch/konzerte/buxtehude-membra-jesu-nostri/
Where
Arlesheimer Dom
Domplatz 16
4144 Arlesheim