In this latest installment of recordings focusing on the choral traditions of different country's choral music traditions launched last year by the Vokalensemble Stuttgart des SWR, we now arrive in sunny Italy, a country said to have no native choral tradition.

Giuseppe Verdi of course used choirs in his operas, but apart from that there are only a few choral works that have sustained any place in the repertoire, some of the finest of which are presented here. With the beginning of the 20th century, however, one encounters composer's that are less well known, but whom have certainly composed some very exciting music for choir, including Pizzetti, Giacinto Scelsi, Luigi Nono and Goffredo Petrassi.

They all offer poignant, poetic, funny, mysterious, ironic choral works that are original and always interesting in their structure. They show an Italy away from the operatic bel canto, but certainly not lacking in beautiful melodies. This is a most worthy addition to their on-going “country” series.

The Vokalensemble Stuttgart des SWR is one of the most internationally acclaimed choirs. Their scholarship, adventurous programming, wide range of styles and impeccable vocal performances are their trademarks. For many years, the Vokalensemble has been considered one of the top ensembles for contemporary music and has, throughout its 65 year history, presented more world premieres than any other professional choir.

Discovering Italy's Historical Choir Tradition

SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Marcus Creed

Composers

Nono, Luigi (1924-90)
Petrassi, Goffredo (1904-2003)
Pizzetti, Ildebrando (1880-1968)
Scelsi, Giacinto (1905-88)
Verdi, Giuseppe (1813-1901)

Works

Nono: Sarà dolce tacere
Petrassi: Nonsense
Pizzetti: Tre Composizioni corali
Scelsi: TKRDG for 6 male voices, 3 percussionists and electrically amplified guitar
Scelsi: Yliam
Verdi: Ave Maria (from Quattro Pezzi Sacri)
Verdi: Laudi alla Vergine Maria (from Quattro Pezzi Sacri)
Verdi: Quattro Pezzi Sacri
Verdi: Stabat Mater (from Quattro Pezzi Sacri)
Verdi: Te Deum (from Quattro Pezzi Sacri)

Wakako Nakaso (soprano), Sabine Czinczel (alto), Alexander Yudenkov (tenor), Mikhail Shashkov (bass)
Südwestrundfunk Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Marcus Creed

Composers

Glinka, Mikhail Ivanovich (1804-57)
Gubaidulina, Sofia (b.1931)
Rachmaninov, Sergey Vassilievich (1873-1943)
Schnittke, Alfred (1934-98)
Taneyev, Sergei Ivanovich (1856-1915)
Tchaikovsky, Piotr Ilyich (1840-93)

Works

Glinka: Hymn
Gubaidulina: Hommage à Marina Tsvetayeva
Rachmaninov: O Theodokos, immer wachend im Gebet
Rachmaninov: Vespers, Op. 37
Schnittke: Drei geistliche Gesänge
Schnittke: Three Sacred Hymns
Taneyev, S: The Twelve Choruses, Op. 27
Tchaikovsky: The Cherubic Hymn

The SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart is one of the few choirs enjoying an international reputation. Their latest recording has “America” as its subject - and presents a tremendously wide range of forms and expressions, from music written under the influence of European masters to works that boldly explore experiments in aesthetic reorientation. The big names of the U.S. composers are of course represented, including Leonard Bernstein with his single a cappella work, the “Missa Brevis”, Steve Reich with his minimalist “Proverb” and John Cage with some of his late “Number Pieces”. Everything is presented at the highest artistic level, with ravishing sonics that cannot be beat.

Gramophone Magazine August 2014 Editor's Choice

Works

Barber: A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map, Op. 15
Bernstein: Missa Brevis
Cage: Five
Copland: Four Motets
Copland: Have mercy on us, O my Lord
Copland: Help us, O Lord
Copland: Sing ye praises to our King
Copland: Thou O Jehovah, Abideth Forever
Feldman, M: Rothko Chapel
Reich: Proverb

This is the latest release from the incredible SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart and includes several CD and world premiere recordings. Villa Lobos created a vast repertoire of new Brazilian choral music and the works on this CD range from the sublime elegance of Bachianas Brasilieras No.9 to the passionate Préces Sem Palavras. The genius of Brazil's greatest composer is obvious in this exquisite music.

SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart, Marcus Creed

Composers

Bach, Johann Sebastian (1685-1750)
Villa-Lobos, Heitor (1887-1959)
Works

Villa-Lobos: As Costureiras, for full chorus of women's Voices
Villa-Lobos: Ave Maria a 4
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9 for chorus or string orchestra
Villa-Lobos: Bazzum
Villa-Lobos: Bendita Sabedoria
Villa-Lobos: Chôros No. 3 'Pica-Pau' for male chorus & wind instruments
Villa-Lobos: Cor dulce, cor amabile
Villa-Lobos: Duas Lendas Amerindias Em Nheengatu
Villa-Lobos: José
Villa-Lobos: Na Bahia Tem, for male chorus
Villa-Lobos: Preces sem palavras
Villa-Lobos: Preludio und Fuga No.8 bearbeitet fur Chor aus Wohltemperiertes Klavier BWV853

Stuttgart Vocal Ensemble Choir, Ensemble Modern Choir, Marcus Creed

Composers

Kurtág, György (b.1926)

Works

Kurtág: Acht Chöre zu Gedichten von Dezsö Tandori, Op. 23
Kurtág: Omaggio a Luigi Nono, Op. 16
Kurtág: Songs of Despair and Sorrow, Op 18

This recording presents three different, utterly contrasting responses to the quest for expression and the solution to the old problem of how to merge text and music into a unity. The common theme linking these compositions, 'The Passion and Pains of Love', has been wrested from the texts of these choral works: they are poetic declarations of love, descriptions of nature with erotic and intimate imagery, poems that speak of unfulfilled yearning and breaking hearts. Their poetic quality opens a range of expression every bit as varied as the three musical settings they stimulated.

Mikhail Nikiforov (Bass), Alexander Yudenkov (Tenor), Ulrike Becker (Alto)
Torsten Müller (Bass), Eva-Maria Schappé (Soprano)
Percussionists of Strasbourg, Southwest German Radio Vocal Ensemble, Stuttgart, Marcus Creed

Composers

Mahler, Gustav (1860-1911)
Nono, Luigi (1924-90)
Strauss, Richard (1864-1949)
Wagner, Richard (1813-83)

Works

Mahler: Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (Rückert-Lieder)
Mahler: Rückert-Lieder
Mahler: Blicke mir nicht in die Lieder! (Rückert-Lieder)
Mahler: Ich atmet' einen linden Duft (Rückert-Lieder)
Mahler: Liebst Du um Schönheit (Rückert-Lieder)
Mahler: Um Mitternacht (Rückert-Lieder)
Nono: Cori di Didone
Nono: Liebeslied
Nono: Sarà dolce tacere
Strauss, R: Der Abend Op. 34 No. 1
Strauss, R: Gesange (2), Op. 34
Strauss, R: Hymne Op. 34 No. 2
Wagner: Im Treibhaus (No. 3 from Wesendonck-Lieder)
Wagner: Träume (No. 5 from Wesendonck-Lieder)
Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder (5)