One of the most sought-after contemporary composers, Wolfram Buchenberg feels particularly attached to choral music. For the first time, the new CD recording by Cantabile Regensburg, directed by Matthias Beckert, provides a comprehensive insight into the beautiful sound and the richly coloured world of Buchenberg’s a-cappella music.
Cantabile Regensburg
Soprano: Alena Szeltner, Andrea Trißl, Anna Heining (Solo Magnificat), Gisela Kößler, Julia Rieß, Katharina Garcia, Manuela Hahn, Maria Fellner, Nadja Ghanem, Ruth Zeitlhöfler, Saskia Lermer
Alto: Agnes Bohnert, Barbara Stößlein, Birgit Gießibl, Christine Chmielewski, Friederike Seutter von Loetzen, Johanna Zechmeister, Irina Klier, Marlene Mügschl, Monika Mügschl-Scharf, Monika Scheffler, Susanne Ehrich, Veronika Berberich
Tenor: Christof Hohnen, Erhard Scharf, Florian Karl, Matthias Zeitlhöfler, Patrick Ehrich, Thomas Bauer, Thomas Erl, Ulrich Heisterkamp, Wilfried Meindl
Bass: Andreas Graichen, Andreas Pfisterer, Franz Xaver Weindler, Manfred Meyer, Martin Gregori, Michael Wiesner, Michael Hoerburger, Ulrich Schwenk
Matthias Beckert, conductor
Wolfram Buchenberg (*1962)
Vier geistliche Gesänge (1997)
Klangfelder Raumschwingungen Oszillationen (2003)
Magnificat (1994)
Da pacem sabbati! (2007)
Vidi calumnias et lacrymas! (1994)
Veni, dilecte mi! (2009)
Als vil in gote, als vil in vride (2001)
Von 55 Engeln behütet (2008)
Kein schöner Land (2006)
Macht hoch die Tür (1995)
Es ist für uns eine Zeit angekommen (1995)
Ich sah drei Schiffe (2006)
»»» Detailed informations, texts, photos, etc. inside CD (booklet)
English booklet enclosed (32 pages) / German booklet enclosed
Total recording time: 67:05 | Format: 1 Audio-CD
Recording: 07/08 2011 – Klosterkirche Adlersberg, Germany
(p) & (c) SPEKTRAL 2012 | Series SPEKTRAL CLASSICS
Order No.: SRL4-12108 | GTIN (EAN): 4260130381080
Cantabile Regensburg seeks to perform a cappella music from the Renaissance to the Modern Age according to the stylistic conventions specific to each musical era and has garnered wide critical acclaim due to its homogeneous and brilliant sound. This mixed choir is counted among the highlights of the German choral scene.
Numerous awards collected at renowned national and international choir competitions document the ensemble’s high standard: In 2009 Cantabile Regensburg received the accolade “outstanding” at the Bavarian Choir Competition and achieved an excellent result at the German Choir Competition in Dortmund in 2010. In 2011 the vocal ensemble was rated “internationally good” at the 12th International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf (Germany).
Cantabile Regensburg was founded by Christian Preißler in 1992 and has been conducted by Matthias Beckert since 2002. The singers, recruited from all over Bavaria, prepare literature for concerts, choir competitions, and CD productions.
Since its formation the choir has released three CDs: »Altissimo« (1999), »O magnum Mysterium« featuring a cappella music for the Christmas season (2003), and “Heinz Werner Zimmermann?—?Choral Works” (2009).
Matthias Beckert (1976) is one of the leading choir and orchestra conductors of his generation. He studied orchestral conducting under Prof. Yuuko Amanuma, church music under Prof. Gerhard Weinberger, school music and choral conducting under Prof. Jörg Straube at the Würzburg University of Music where he graduated with high honors (“Meisterklasse-Diplom”). He completed his studies with international master classes with Gustaf Sjökvist, Volker Hempfling, Anders Eby, and various others.
In 1998 Beckert became the musical director and conductor of the Monteverdichor Würzburg. In 2001 he joined the faculty of the University of Music in Würzburg, where he teaches choral conducting. In 2002 he founded the Monteverdi Ensemble Würzburg. That same year he became the conductor of the renowned Vokalensemble Cantabile Regensburg.
Matthias Beckert conducted numerous premieres and particularly seeks to bring contemporary choral pieces as well as historically informed performances to a wide audience. He presented numerous premieres in close collaboration with renowned composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Wolfram Buchenberg, Zsolt Gárdonyi and Heinz Werner Zimmermann. In appreciation of his achievements Zimmermann dedicated his choral work “I got a robe” to Matthias Beckert while Gárdonyi presented him with his composition “One day with the Lord is like a thousand years”.
At the 2006 Würzburg Mozart Festival Beckert conducted the anniversary concert. In recognition of his long-standing exacting performance standards and his outstanding achievements as conductor of the Monteverdichor he was awarded the culture medal by the city of Würzburg in 2007. He was also honored by the Bavarian Radio Choir at the choral conducting forum in Munich in 2007. In the same year he was appointed conductor of the Suhl Singing Academy and the Suhl Boys Choir. In 2008 he was invited to perform at the International Bach Week Stuttgart with the Gächinger Kantorei.
Under his conductorship both the Monteverdichor Würzburg and the Vokalensemble Cantabile Regensburg excelled at the Bavarian Choir Competition 2009 and were sent to represent the state of Bavaria at the German Choir Competition 2010 in Dortmund. At this event the Monteverdi Choir was distinguished as “excellent” and awarded the prestigious second prize, thus making it one of the best choirs in all of Germany. Beckert was also awarded a stipend for choir directors by the German Music Council. Matthias Beckert has successfully worked with renowned orchestras such as the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hof Symphonic Orchestra, the Thüringen Philharmonic Orchestra Gotha, the Thüringen Philharmonic Orchestra Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bach Collegium Stuttgart, the Main Philharmonic Orchestra and the Concert Royal Cologne. He has appeared as a conductor in performances worldwide, including Italy, Poland, Spain, and Japan. Numerous radio, TV, and CD recordings document his work.
