Festival Ars Nova celebrates XXIII edition with extraordinary concert of John Rutter’s Requiem

On Saturday 12th April at 8.30pm, the church of San Bartolomé in Xàbia will host the 23rd edition of the Festival Ars Nova. On this occasion, the polyphonic group Ars Nova, under the direction of Rubén Penadés, will perform alongside Coral Ars Armonium, a group of the ACAMDO Cultural Association of Orihuela, directed by Nuria Maddaloni, with Alfonso J. Alfonso as the principal conductor.

The concert will feature a joint performance of John Rutter’s ‘Requiem’, one of the most esteemed works in the contemporary choral repertoire. Rutter is a renowned British composer, conductor, and music publisher, especially known for his choral work. His music is characterized by great melodic beauty, harmonic sensitivity and a clear expressive vocation. ‘Requiem’, composed in 1985, is dedicated to the memory of his father and combines traditional liturgical texts with passages from the Book of Psalms. The work conveys profound spirituality and hope, becoming a highly appreciated piece both in liturgical settings and in concerts. To complete the program, two selected movements from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous ‘Requiem’, an iconic piece of sacred music, will also be included.

This concert is part of the “Encuentros 2025” campaign of the Federation of Choirs of the Comunidad Valenciana (FECOCOVA), which promotes collaboration between choral groups in the Valencian region and the development of high-quality musical projects. It also has the support of the Department of Culture of the Xàbia Council, thus reaffirming its commitment to culture and choral music.

Admission is free until full capacity is reached. A unique opportunity to enjoy an evening of high-quality choral music, with a deeply moving repertoire.