The Sereneta choir and its musicians, under the direction of choirmaster Lionel Berbain, professor of musical training at the Montserrat Caballé conservatory in Perpignan, but also choirmaster of the Regina, gave a concert in Saint-Étienne Church.
The program consisted of excerpts and works of sacred music by contemporary composers from diverse geographic and cultural backgrounds, such as Ola Gjeilo, Jacob Narverud, Amber Maxwell, Elaine Hagenberg, Mark Miler, Peppler Choplin, Joseph Martin and V. Jonhson.
A resolutely optimistic choice for Lionel Berbain: “It’s an eclectic choice, a choice of happiness, cheerfulness and hope in these troubled times. All these songs that we sang are songs that were performed by composers under the age of 60, all alive for 99% of the program and with a message of hope“.
The choir was made up of 70 singers and a quintet: string quartet and piano.”It is an amateur choir, but an amateur choir in the good sense of the word. That is to say that they are enlightened amateurs who do not read music but rehearse 2 to 3 hours per week, plus once a month per desk, to put together a program each year “, explains Lionel Berbain, who played at home, he who shares, with Julien Selva, the direction of the Regina and who is not insensitive to the beauty of the place. “The place is completely suitable. This church is magnificent. On what we are achieving with the Reginas, we must continue it with an adapted program“.
Serenata displays great mastery, what more could we wish for her? “Continue like this, because I’m enjoying it, and so are they. We always try to have original programs. In a month we will sing the gospel mass, a mass written in Latin, but in the gospel style, with a jazz orchestra“.
“In the future, we will organize ourselves…”
Attentive to the slightest musical vibrations, Mayor Alain Fabresse expressed his feelings at the end of the concert: “ I am happy that this magnificent cathedral-sized church can host concerts. This is what happened with Serenata and everyone applauded this magnificent performance. Culture is opening up, it’s multicultural. That’s what’s important. This is what we saw this evening. There was a great audience, both families and children like Rose, 4 years old, amazed by these singers, the remarkable sounds and vibratos. There were also elderly people. This is exactly what is needed. In the future, we will organize ourselves so that everyone can enjoy these magnificent moments of harmony and living together“.
