The Institut Valencià de Cultura presents one more year the traditional performance of the 'Cant de la Sibil·la', which returns to the Cathedral of Valencia on Wednesday 18 December, at 19.30 hours. Previously, at 19.00 hours, The 'Toc a Matines' will take place by the Guild of Bell Ringers of the Cathedral of Valencia, recovered from the anonymous 16th century Consueta.
The representation of this paraliturgical drama that comes as a prelude to Christmas will have the participation of the Capella de Ministrers formation, directed by Carles Magraner; the Cathedral Choir and the Escolanía de la Virgen de los Desamparados, directed by Luis Garrido. This year, for the performance of the 'Sermon of the Prophets', adapted by Josep Lluís Sirera, The performance will feature the participation of students from the Escola d'Art Dramàtic and the Higher Conservatory of Music of Valencia, in addition to the Friends of the Corpus Association of Valencia.
The Cathedral of Valencia hosts this prophetic song for the eleventh time, a paraliturgical drama that until the 16th century was staged on Christmas Eve in different cathedrals of the Peninsula, especially in the ancient Crown of Aragon. It is a clear example of heritage recovery that stopped being done in the Cathedral of Valencia in the mid-16th century., the exact date is unknown, by the Council of Trent (1545-1563), that prohibited theatrical demonstrations inside temples. This representation will again have, for interpretation with instruments, of replicas of the musical angels from the frescoes of the main altar of the Cathedral. The solo altar boy will be Nicolás Barrós, who will sing from the pulpit and play the sibyl, and there will once again be the participation of tenor Jorge Morata.
Carlos Magraner, director of Chapel of Ministers, coordinated in 2006 the reconstruction project 15 instruments, made by prestigious Spanish and European luthiers, that are currently used by training to interpret them.
Capella de Ministrers faithfully recovered in 2012, almost 500 years later, the representation that was held in the Cathedral of Valencia according to the preserved documentation.
