From the Middle Ages to contemporary music: in search of the homogeneous sound
| As the name implies — whatever the Singphoniker sing, everything is approached with the same high standards. So as not to become too serious, however, they season their programmes with a pinch of masterly “singphonic” irony. This is made possible by the perfectly balanced subtlety of the male soloist voice ensemble, in which each individually characterized voice is assimilated in the homogeneity of a combined sound. The model for this type of skilful ensemble singing was provided by the unforgettable Comedian Harmonists. It was their arrangements that — over 25 years ago— inspired six Munich conservatory students to sing together. In the current line-up of Markus Geitner, Daniel Schreiber, Christian Schmidt, Henning Jensen, Michael Mantaj and the pianist Berno Scharpf the ensemble with its unpretentious performances and cleverly selected programmes ranks among the leading specialists in vocal chamber music. This claim is emphatically proven by their presence in the concert hall and the internet (www.singphoniker.de) and their meanwhile over 30 CDs, mainly on their regular label cpo. | Despite this, it would certainly be misguided to see parody and mimicry as the sole features of the “singphonic” style. With the same precision the Singphoniker undertake expeditions into the sociable art of 19th century ensemble singing. In complete recordings or extensive selections they present vocal arrangements by Michael Haydn, Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Konradin Kreutzer and brand-new, “Singphonic Grieg”. The prize-winning complete recording of all of Franz Schubert’s arrangements for vocal ensemble set standards in his bicentennial year 1997. Thematically oriented programmes such as a selection of drinking songs through the centuries, Christmas-time vocal music or spiritual literature also extend beyond a mere hit parade. Thanks to the flexibility of the vocal ensemble and the competent advice of Godehard Joppich, the expert on Gregorian chant, the Singphoniker are now also leaders where Gregorian chant is concerned. |
Programmes Overview 2010-2011
...just songs!
Vocal entertainment with Lieder and songs from renaissance to jazz
On wings of song
An homage to Felix Mendelssohn - Bartholdy
Schumann's 200th birthday
The Singphoniker at their best - an homage to Robert Schumann
Schumann plus
Schumann in combination with contemporary intermezzi for male voices & 2 percussionists
Robert Schumann - Enjott Schneider
2 song cycles in contrast - Schumann's op. 33 and Schneider's Morgenstern song book
Fragile
Transience and eternity - Pierre de la Rue's renaissance requiem combined with vocal music from the 20th century
Schubert - Recital
Romantic vocal music for male voices with the specialists in the field
O Magnum Mysterium
A capella vocal music for christmas
Programmes +
Augustinus - a sounding mosaic
A church opera in seven acts by Wilfried Hiller
The seven deadly sins
Ballet Chanté for soprano, 4 male voices a small orchestra
Die Heilige Nacht
Ludwig Thoma's famous christmas story combined with vocal music for male voices by Wilfried Hiller
Weihnachten / Singphoniker & Orchester
Christmas-medleys with orchestra
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