Le jardin florissant in St. Lawrence Chapel in Vantaa, the 6th of August, 2018

I had earlier this summer a chance to admire the cooperation between soprano Tuuli Lindeberg and Anna-Maaria Oramo at the Janakkala Baroque Festival and now I could continue admiring it at the  BRQ Vantaa Festival in the St. Lawrence Chapel in Vantaa. “Le jardin florissant – The blossoming Garden of the Romance of the Rose” consisted of renaissance and baroque music from the 13^th to the 16^th centuries.  

The Romance of the Rose (Le Roman de la Rose) may in the eyes of the modern man look like a weirdish poem of a youth, of falling in love, of a rose and of the end of love, but in its day it was a big thing. Lindeberg and Oramo had chosen some (in their eyes suitable) songs and musical pieces to tell this story. The instruments were of the era (clavicymbalum and virginal), even though in the end of the performance in one song the organ was used (just one extremely long tone at a time), which was hugely impressive and beautiful and in my opinion suited the situation perfectly.

What made the evening especially interesting was that the chosen songs were at the same time both similar and different. And since there were only two performers, the atmosphere was very intensive. The fantastic cooperation between Lindeberg and Oramo swept you away: they are true professionals and playing with the roles of singer and accompanist was fascinating and also fun.

The programme had many fine pieces, but if I have to raise one above the others, perhaps my personal favourite was Jehan Chadravoine’s song (from the 16th century) ”Mignonne, allons voir si rose”. I liked its throbbing rhythm and in my mind it sort of formed a feverish start for a dreamlike love story.

The only negative thing about the evening was actually the venue itself. The St. Lawrence Chapel is a modern building and some older, more ambient surroundings would have suited the performance far better.

St. Lawrence Chapel



Oramo and Lindeberg



The rose destroyed