The singers of Wishful Singing combine their musical talents with vocalist Salah Eddine Mesbah and multi-instrumentalist Hamza Amrani from the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra. Ud player Ilias Markantonis also participates; he is the winner of the Ud Concours 2024. 

The sounds of the ud and the rabab add a rich, melancholic depth to the singing, while the percussion amplifies the ominous message of the Sibyl. With 'The Song of the Sibyl' our creators from the Amsterdam Andalusian Orchestra and Wishful Singing offer an exciting musical alternative to the conventional winter concerts that are dominated by Hallelujahs and Jingle Bells. 

The Song of the Sibyl

We find ourselves in the Mallorca of the early Middle Ages, on the eve of Christmas. A figure, dressed in liturgical robes, raises a sword in the middle of the church and sings: 'On the Day of Judgment, he who has served will be spared.' 

This striking opening image marks the beginning of 'The Song of the Sibyl'; an ancient piece that has its roots in the same rich soil as Gregorian chant. 'The Song of the Sibyl' is a so-called doomsday prophecy: just at the moment when the great festivities are approaching, 'The Song of the Sibyl' holds up a mirror to us. It is a warning, an echo from the past that still resonates - where do we lead ourselves if we no longer listen, if we forget what unites us? 

'The Song of the Sibyl' - El cant de la Sibil·la - is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The roots of this fascinating, ancient composition can be traced back to the fifth century. The repeating theme evokes a meditative atmosphere, where voice and instrument, solo and ensemble singing alternate.