The Cistercian order was born at the end of the 11th century around the new monastery of Cîteaux and developed by Bernard of Clairvaux in the following years. Their aim was to return to the basics of the austere Benedictine rule, as opposed to the less stricter developments that had taken place around Cluny. These ideas quickly spread around Europe, producing great architecture and great liturgical music, devoid of embellishments and flourishments then considered unnecessary. Sabine Lutzenberger and her Ensemble PER-SONAT presents the sounds of Cistercian monasteries all around Europe. Since its founding in 2008, the PER-SONAT ensemble has been dedicated to the task of exploring the music of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance from different cultural backgrounds. The focus is always on original sources with committed interpretation. The ensemble members, Sabine Lutzenberger, Baptiste Romain, Tobie Miller and Elisabeth Rumsey, are concerned not only with the greatest authenticity, but also with presenting an artistically lively, innovative, and exciting performance.
