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Joy to the World | Impresario Club
2 December 2022 | 6:00 pm
Members Only
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A perfect blend of sound, precision, lightness and wit. These are the hallmarks of the Calmus Ensemble, now one of the most successful vocal groups in Germany. This holiday a capella program will feature carols and Christmas music all the way from the 11th century to present. These five Leipzig musicians have won a whole string of international prizes and competitions and the reach of their activities is constantly expanding. Shaped by the centuries-old tradition of great German boys’ choirs, they are at home in the vocal music of the Renaissance, the Baroque and the Romantic. They revel in singing pop, folk and jazz, as well as chansons and golden oldies from the 1920s.
“The entire performance was nothing short of hypnotic. Calmus’ five members blended perfectly in their harmonies and left the audience in awed silence many a time, before they finally broke out into applause.”
– Kendall Mostafavi, DC Metro Theatre Arts
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Calmus Ensemble
Elisabeth Mücksch – soprano; Maria Kalmbach – alto; Friedrich Bracks – tenor;
Jonathan Saretz – baritone; Michael B. Gernert – bass
Homogeneity, precision, lightness, emotionality, humorousness—these are characteristics of the Calmus Ensemble, one of Germany’s most successful vocal groups. The wide range of tonal colors, the passionate joy the singers convey on stage, their sound culture and their varied and imaginative programs never fail to inspire. The five singers from Leipzig have won several international prizes and competitions—most recently the OPUS Klassik 2019 for “Best Choral Recording”. With over 50 concerts a year, Calmus is always a welcome guest throughout Europe and North America alike.
The ensemble’s repertoire range is almost unlimited. Influenced by the tradition of the old masters of Leipzig, the singers are at home in the vocal music of the Renaissance, Baroque, and Romantic periods alike. Over the years, they have commissioned and premiered numerous compositions, including works by Paul Moravec, Mathew Rosenblum, Bernd Franke, Steffen Schleiermacher, Wolfram Buchenberg, Bill Dobbins, Mia Makaroff, Dan Dediu and Harald Banter. They also enjoy singing and arranging pop, folk, and jazz, as they published numerous sheet music publications.
Calmus is known for its many collaborations including projects with the MDR Sinfonieorchester (Weill’s “The Seven Deadly Sins”), the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, the Hamburg Ratsmusik, the hr-Bigband, the Capella de la Torre, amarcord (“Disputation”) or Elke Heidenreich (“Nachtgedanken”) further enrich Calmus’ repertoire, and with the lautten compagney BERLIN (“BachArkaden” / “Mitten im Leben”).
Calmus devotes a part of its time to the promotion of young talent. Lessons, workshops, and jury activities are part of the singers’ daily routine, at home in Leipzig and on the road as artists-in-residence at the STIMMEN Festival Lörrach, at the Bachwoche Stuttgart.
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