VISIONI ed ESTASI was commissioned by the Flanders Festival in Mechelen for the 2015 TENSO Days (International Festival for Contemporary Choral Music).

The work was originally composed for 3 professional choirs and 1 large choir (comprising 7 amateur choirs) and electronics.
It is a vast work lasting 45 minutes, in which introspective passages alternate with moments of intense ecstasy.

Inspiration for the composition came from a verse from the Latin Requiem Mass 'Lux Aeterna'. The original text was deconstructed, which showed that it has no semantic value, but its essence, the message of Light and Hope, is quite discinct. This message is embedded in most cultures and religions.
Visioni ed Estasi was also inspired by the paintings of Francisco de Zurbaràn, especially his work 'Saint Francis of Assisi in his Tomb',

Much of Henderickx's music can be traced back to his interest in the Orient, but VISIONI ed ESTASI can be seen in a broader spiritual context.

The work premiered at Saint Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen (BE) with James Wood as the general conductor. It involved professional choirs from the Netherlands, France and Finland and amateur choirs from the city of Mechelen.

The electronics serve to support the choirs, and merg and interact with the voices.

The choirs enter into a dialogue in a set-up inspired by the Venetian 'Cori Spezzati' in order to create a strong spatial effect.

The work consists of 11 parts:
Prologue: Sacred Time

Vision I: Suffering
Ecstasy 1: Darkness

Song of Memories (Interlude 1)

Vision II: Void
Ecstasy 2: Fire (Passion)

Vision III: Love
Ecstasy 3: Light (Goodness)

Song of Compassion (Interlude 2)

Vision IV: Hope

Epilogue: Sacred Space

In 2016 Wim Henderickx made a smaller version of the work, named ESTASI,
for double choir, soprano solo, bass solo and electronics ad lib. (+/- 20’)

Premiere at Saint Rumbold's Cathedral in Mechelen (BE) on 17 May 2015 (Flanders Festival Mechelen and TENSO Days)