Belgium’s Saint-Hubert Basilica Hosts Forgotten Baroque Oratorio

The Royal Musical July festival in Saint-Hubert, Belgium, presented Benedetto Marcello’s oratorio Il pianto e il riso delle quattro stagioni dell'anno on July 13, 2026. The piece, created in 1731 for the Feast of the Assumption, personifies the four seasons as siblings who mourn and then celebrate the Virgin Mary’s ascension to heaven. Marcello, a nobleman and legal scholar, composed the work with a variety of musical forms including solos, duets, and choruses.

The performance featured the ensemble L'Assemblée led by Marie van Rhijn on harpsichord, alongside the Namur Chamber Choir and four vocal soloists including Belgian soprano Gwendoline Blondeel. The festival cleverly promoted the concert by initially referencing Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons to draw attention to the lesser-known Marcello.

L'Assemblée aims to showcase overlooked composers from the 16th to 21st centuries. Following this performance, the festival will continue with concerts in Lavacherie and La Roche en Ardenne throughout July.