Viriditas Sibil•la Ensemble

• Hildegard von Bingen (1098 - 1179): O virtus Sapientiae:
• 1 Bingen: O virtus Sapientiae 04:22
• Anonymous: Cantigas de Santa Maria:
• 2 Anonymous: Cantigas de Santa Maria: Gran poder a de mantar 02:44
• 3 Anonymous: Cantigas de Santa Maria: Rosa das Rosas 04:27
• Anonymous: El Misteri d'Elx:
• 4 Anonymous: El Misteri d'Elx: O Arbre Sanct 07:05
• Sibil•la Ensemble: Percussion improvisation:
• 5 Ensemble: Percussion improvisation 03:01
• Hildegard von Bingen: O nobilissima viriditas:
• 6 Bingen: O nobilissima viriditas 05:22
• Traditional: Song of Klidonas:
• 7 Traditional: Song of Klidonas 04:17
• Parakalo tin Panayia:
• 8 Traditional: Parakalo tin Panayia 04:13
• Sibil•la Ensemble: Percussion improvisation:
• 9 Ensemble: Recorder improvisation 04:07
• Moniot d'Arras (1213 - 1239): Ce fut en mai:
• 10 d'Arras: Ce fut en mai 04:09
• Hildegard von Bingen: Karitas habundat:
• 11 Bingen: Karitas habundat 08:16
• Total Runtime 52:03

Info for Viriditas

Sibil•la Ensemble draws inspiration from the Sibyls, the female prophetesses who have captivated the human imagination from ancient pagan times to the medieval era and Renaissance. Sibyls were revered across cultures for their divine insights and prophecies. They were seen as conduits between the mortal realm and the divine, shaping the spiritual beliefs of Western civilizations throughout history.

The mystical concept of Viriditas is originating from the theological writings of the German Benedictine abbess, composer, philosopher, mystic, and polymath Hildegard von Bingen, ‘Sibyl of the Rhine’. Hildegard was known for her ability to commune with the divine and derive insights from nature. In Hildegard’s philosophy, Viriditas symbolises the vibrant, life-giving energy that permeates the natural world and the essence of greenness and flora. This divine force, both physical and spiritual, was believed to be experienced in moments of ecstatic connection, where the boundaries between humanity and nature blur.

These 12th and 13th century chants and secular songs from Germany, Spain, France and Cyprus are centred around the concept of Viriditas. Each one is a tribute to the generative power of nature that the Sybils embodied, celebrating its rhythms, cycles, and eternal harmony.

A medieval music ensemble based in The Netherlands, inspired by the Sibyls – prophetesses of the pagan times. Focused on the repertoire from the 11th century to the 15th, consists of voices and historical instruments such as vielle, gothic harp, recorders, organetto, medieval lute and percussion.

It is a symposium of musicians ready to experiment in the aesthetics and the performance practices, with ultimate goal to serve the spirituality of the music.

“With the belief that music is a single and united organism since its very beginning, we consider every part of its historical evolution as an alive part that influences, inspires and transforms our contemporary art, aesthetics and societies.” (Kristia Michael, artistic director)

Sibil•la
Kristia Michael, artistic director

Kristia Michael
is a soprano, composer, and sound artist hailing from Cyprus, and since 2024, the label manager of the Dutch record label, TRPTK. She has obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Studies from ARTE Music Academy in Cyprus, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Sciences with a specialization in Primary Education from the University of Cyprus. Kristia pursued advanced studies at The Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where she earned her Master’s degree in “New Audiences and Innovative Practice” with cum laude distinction. During her studies, she received guidance and mentorship from Noa Frenkel, Natalia Pshenischnikova, and Yannis Kyriakides. Kristia’s unique blend of early and contemporary music showcases her versatility and dedication to pushing artistic boundaries.

Kristia is focusing on Medieval Music repertoire, and she has recently taken up playing the Gothic harp. She has performed at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, the Festival of European Polyphony in Rhodes, the Early Music Festivals of Cyprus, etc. She has collaborated with the ensemble Ex Silentio and shared the stage with artists like Marcel Pérès. In addition to her performances, Kristia is the founder and artistic director of Sibil·la Ensemble, which is now collaborating with TRPTK for releasing one of the first immersive audio and video album in the Medieval Music scene.

Regarding contemporary music and composition, she has a profound interest in the exploration and use of extended vocal techniques, pure tones, folk timbres, and the realm of performance art. She devotes herself to collaborating with composers for the purpose of presenting world premieres, participating in recording endeavors, engaging in diverse projects, and contributing to the creation of works and operas. She has collaborated with festivals and institutions, including Dag in de Branding (NL), Orkest de Ereprijs (NL), MusicAeterna and Dom.Radio (RU), and Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, and she has worked closely with the ensembles Nieuw Amsterdams Peil (NL), Arctic Trio Ensemble (NW), Φ Faos Ensemble (GR), and Kali Ensemble (NL). She has recorded for theatres, music theatres, movies and ballets.

Kristia has composed various pieces encompassing vocal music and multichannel sound installations. These have been premiered in new music festivals such as Dag in de Branding (NL), EPICENTROOM Festival (RU), SPRING Festival (NL), and the IMZ International Music + Media Centre (AU), and State Hermitage Museum (RU), where her compositions served as soundtracks for an exhibition featuring Albrecht Dürer’s works. In 2020, she collaborated with Andreas Moustoukis on the album “Silent Lands”.

Booklet for Viriditas