The first Lighthouse Project conceived by Frank Markowitsch in his capacity as the new Artistic Director of CHOEUR3 took place from 2 – 5 October 2019 and focused on Baroque composer Antonio Caldara and St. Francis of Assisi. Rarely heard sacred music by Caldara, whose 350th birthday will be celebrated in 2020, was performed in two concerts in Colmar and Freiburg. In addition, a day of seminars, conducting courses, and master classes was devoted to Antonio Caldara and his St. Francis Mass. The project was a cooperative undertaking of Musik im Dialog e.V., CHOEUR3 e.V., and the Freiburger Forschungs- und Lehrzentrum Musik.
The reactions of the concert audiences, critics, and participants from Germany, France, and Switzerland were overwhelmingly positive. The Badische Zeitung praised “an ensemble known for intelligent project concepts”, a program of “the highest dramatic and artistic quality”, an “exquisite instrumental ensemble from the three-nation border region”, and singers that “displayed the highest degree of sensitivity”!
