Concert
Solistkoret & conductor Florian Helgath
Swedish contemporary music meets German romanticism and Bach's corals get confronted with Mauricio Kagels Chorbok.
Program
Thomas Jennefelt: O domine
Johannes Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen
Hugo Wolf: Sechs geistliche Lieder nach Gedichten von Eichendorff
Mauricio Kagel / Johann Sebastian Bach: Chorbuch
About the concert
The Argentinian composer Mauricio Kagel's Chorbuch is a highly unusual work that is rarely performed in Norway. The book was written in the 70's and consists of 53 corals sorted alphabetically. With every performance of the piece, Kagel allows the choirs to choose which of the songs to sing and the order of them. They can be repeated, and often performed in combination with music by other composers.
Music by J. S. Bach is the basis of Kagel's book, which will be performed here by a keyboard while the choir simultaneously sings compositions by Kagel. The singers are encouraged to shout or sing in a particularly low register, the composer suggests the use of megaphones, miming, gesticulation and theatrical acts as part of the performance.
This evening Helgath and The Norwegian Soloists' Choir will also perform music by Swedish composer Thomas Jennefelt, music from the romantic period by German Hugo Wolf and Johannes Brahms' 'Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen', described by Brahms as a small "essay on the great Why".
Featuring
The Norwegian Soloists' Choir
The Norwegian Soloists' Choir is an innovative young ensemble, steeped in a rich history. As one of Europe's leading chamber choirs, they perform spectacular concerts in Norway and abroad, in concert halls and churches, in caravans and in abandoned factory venues. The Norwegian Soloists' Choir consists of 26 hand-picked, professional singers who have a tremendous ability to blend their voices, resulting in a highly distinctive choral expression. Along with its celebrated artistic leader Grete Pedersen, the choir achieves ambitious artistic goals through constant development.
Florian Helgath
Since 2011 Florian Helgath has been Artistic Director of the ChorWerk Ruhr and Zürcher Sing-Akademie since 2017. With these exceptional vocal ensembles. He creates choir music of all periods on the highest level both in A cappella and with orchestras. Florian Helgath has held the position as conductor of the Danish National Choir from 2009 to 2015. In addition, he was Artistic Director of the Via Nova Chor Munich from 2008 to 2016. With this ensemble he has conducted numerous acclaimed first performances and has been awarded with international prizes.
Lars Notto Birkeland
Lars Notto Birkeland er en allsidig musiker med bakgrunn som organist, dirigent, pianist og akkompagnatør. I tillegg til stillinger som kantor i Akershus Slottskirke og undervisningsstillinger ved NMH og Barratt Due musikkinstitutt har han en omfattende frilanskarriere.