'Canto Espiritual', Sacred music concert by Benidorm Choral Group

The church of Sant Jaume i Santa Anna was the venue chosen by Benidorm Choral Group to perform its ‘Spiritual Song’; a program of sacred music featuring classics such as Bach and Elgar, Rachmaninoff, and d’Indy. The concert was part of the events organised by the City Council for Holy Week.

Around 200 people enjoyed the recital, the second in a series of Holy Week performances by the Benidorm Choral Group, following the one held on Monday at the parish church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen.

Under the direction of Ramón Llorente Yáñez, the choir began the recital with Nicholas Britell’s ‘Adagio’ and continued with ‘Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068: 11th Air’ and ‘The Art of Fugue’ (Die Kunst der Fuge, BWV 1080, No. 1), both by Johann Sebastian Bach. Hildegard von Bingen's "Virtus Sapientiae," performed by soloist María Dolores Luján; Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina's "Crux Fidelis"; Edward Elgar's "Ave Maria"; Þorkell Sigurbjörnsson's "Heyr, himna smiğur"; and Sergei Rachmaninov's "Bogoroditse Devo."

After a brief pause, the vocal ensemble continued the second part of their "Concierto Coral" with Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Pie Jesu," featuring soloists Babel Burgos and Llum Sempere; Thomas Tallis's "If Ye love me"; Nicolai Kedrov's "Pater Noster"; Michael Praetorius's "Christ ist erstanden"; and concluded with Vincent d'Indy's "Cantate Domino."

Since its founding in 1981, Benidorm Choir has been a leading voice in vocal performance in the province of Alicante. It has performed concerts throughout Spain and toured countries such as Germany, Belgium, France, and Italy.

The Holy Week events in Benidorm continue today, Wednesday, with the procession of the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of Nazareth, which will depart at 10:00 p.m. from the Church of Sant Jaume i Santa Anna.