Sjaella (eng)
Copyright Lara Müller Uniform yet individual, gentle yet robust, precise yet free-flowing – this versality is what Sjaella’s sound is all about. The six singers from Leipzig (GER) joined forces in 2005 already and continue to discover new ways to diversify their sound. They are open to new influences, love musical diversity and have the courage to challenge barriers. They are comfortable with their wide-ranging repertoire which comprises various genres. A special focus lies on the collaboration with both composers from Germany and abroad to develop new possibilities for the cast of six female voices. Their CD released in 2013 at the label querstand called ‘Preisung’ (Eulogy) with modern settings of spiritual pieces was nominated for the prize Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. In fall 2018 Sjaella has released their album ‘Meridiane – NORD’ with folk songs from Northern Europe, in 2021 „Origins“ with Barock & Contemporary music, both also nominated for the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
This very diversity coupled with the close relationship the group has with their audience has paved the way, for many years, for Sjaella’s performances in renowned music festivals and at concert halls both domestic and overseas (Early Music Festival Utrecht, Rheingau Musikfestival, Berliner Konzerthaus, Gewandhaus zu Leipzig, Palace of the Arts Budapest, Wiener Konzerthaus, Wiener Musikverein, Flagey Brussels). In addition, the group have appeared as guests on television and radio (Berlinale, WDR, BR Klassik) and have even been awarded first international prizes for vocal music (Tampereen Sävel Finland, International a cappella Contest Leipzig, vokal.total – International A Cappella Competition Graz). They have released several albums and perform at renowned music festivals in Germany and abroad. The group can be found touring Australia, Spain, Azerbaidschan, Poland, England, Austria, Finland, Norway, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Mexico, USA, Jordan and South Africa.
Sjaella is currently an elementary part of the ballet „Giselle“ at the Opera Leipzig and will work closely with the Gewandhaus Orchestra in the course of this production.
‘Sjæl’ or ’Själ’ is the Danish word for soul.
German Gents (eng)
Copyright Johannes Jost German Gents is an a cappella ensemble from Berlin. They were founded in the year 2018 by students of Universität der Künste and Staats- und Domchor Berlin. The group consists of the two tenors Thoma Wutz and Armin Horn, the baritone Raphael Riebesell and the bass Marcel Raschke.
The quartet performs sacred and secular pieces from the Romantic period as well as German Folk songs, modern pieces, Barbershop Quartet Music and self-arranged classics and spirituals from the last centuries.In 2019 they participated at the International a cappella Contest Leipzig and won the first price. Since then, the ensemble sung at the festival Festspiele Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and in multiple other places, including Hannover and Berlin. They are invited to sing several concerts across Germany, for example at classic-festivals such as Rheingau Musik Festival, Musica Bayreuth as well as Bachfest Leipzig.
From the very beginning all members shared an affection to classical music and enjoy singing together.
Hörbeispiele auf german-gents.de
German Gents auf Youtube: “German Gents – L.O.V.E. – Official Music Video“
QUARTONAL (eng)
Copyright Missophie Quartonal began its roots in Northern Germany in the Uetersen Boy’s Choir and is currently one of the most sought-after vocal ensembles in Germany. The four young singers, Mirko Ludwig (Tenor), Jo Holzwarth (Tenor), Christoph Behm (Baritone) and Sönke Tams Freier (Bass), charm their audiences with their vast repertoire, attention to the smallest musical detail and refreshing witticism. Their trademark is their acutely harmonious sound that transcends every musical genre.
Shortly after the formation of the ensemble in 2006, Quartonal won first place at the German National Choir Competition (Dortmund) in the Vocal Ensemble category. Since then they have won multiple prizes in various international competitions.
The ensemble continues to perform throughout Europe, as well as Taiwan and China. The four singers are frequently invited to perform at festivals such as the Schleswig- Holstein Musik Festival, Musikfest Stuttgart, Rheingau Musik Festival and MDR Musiksommer.
The repertoire of the ensemble covers a large part of the spectrum of the international a cappella literature: Renaissance Madrigales, sacred and secular men’s choral works of the romantic period to contemporary compositions, international folk songs, while specializing in German and low German folk songs. In addition, they pride themselves with performing new compositions and arrangements. Quartonal collaborates with international renowned composers and arrangers. They have also received artistic direction from the King’s Singers.
In 2013 Quartonal debuted their album Another Way with Sony Classical. The album incorporates music by English composers of the 20th and 21st century.
Everytime, Quartonal’s second album with Sony Classical (2017), presents a collection of international pop and folksongs.
Quartonal also gives workshops around the world for choirs, vocal ensembles and conductors.
Mirror Strings (eng)
Copyright Marie Hübner We are the sound of constant change feat. two guitars and two cellos.
Two guitars merge with two cellos and create a yet unheard-of diversity of colours and sound.. This line-up is unique, and with it also the repertoire. MIRROR STRINGS is always searching for outstanding pieces – due to their own arrangements which the musicians write to precisely match their requirements, the music resounds in a refreshing and energetic way. This new ensemble has the big opportunity to create a new language and a unique musical experience, released from old patterns and conventions.
Mirror Strings auf Youtube: “A New Sound” [Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op. 40]
Mirror Strings auf Youtube: “Quartett 7” by Tilman Hübner | Open Strings Berlin
Sky du Mont (eng)
Copyright Sky du Mont Sky du Mont’s family, who are related to the famous publishers DuMont Schauberg, fled the Nazis in the 1930s to South America. He was born in Argentina as the son of a German and the British Chiquita Neven du Mont (1921–2018). He grew up in England, but came to Germany in 1969, where he studied acting between 1969 and 1972 in Munich.
In Germany, he is well known for playing suave and urbane, sometimes villainous or shady upper class characters since the 1970s. He appeared in three of the commercially most successful German film comedies of all time: In Otto – Der Film (1985), in the Western comedy Der Schuh des Manitu (2001) and in Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1 (2003).
In international cinema, Sky du Mont portrayed the Hungarian businessman Sandor Szavost in Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and played one of the Nazi killers in The Boys from Brazil (1978). Other international roles include Count Galeazzo Ciano in the US-miniseries The Winds of War (1983), Claus von Stauffenberg in the sequel War and Remembrance (1989), and a recurring role in the soap opera General Hospital in the 1980s. Du Mont also made an uncredited appearance in Das Boot as the officer aboard the resupply ship Weser to whom the U-96 Second Watch Officer demonstrates Depth-Charging. While he only appears in the background in the theatrical and director’s cut, his full appearance is featured in the uncut mini-series.
Du Mont also serves as the German narrator of the children series Thomas & Friends. He is also known for his voiceover work for commercials.
Anna-Maria Hefele (eng)
Copyright Ellen Schmauss Photography Anna-Maria Hefele – holding a master of arts (MA) from Mozarteum Salzburg – is a multiinstrumentalist, singer and overtone singer; performing worldwide as soloist with different ensembles, choirs and orchestras. She is also frequently integrated in contemporary ballett, circus and dance theatre productions.In order to expand the musical repertoire involving overtone singing, Anna-Maria collaborates with contemporary composers who are writing for this particular vocal technique where it seems like one person is singing two notes at the same time by filtering and amplifying the natural harmonics in the human voice.Her YouTube video „polyphonic overtone singing“ became viral and has resulted in more than 19million views so far, followed by regular appearances of Anna-Maria in various international television shows and radio broadcasts. „A voice as from another world“, „the lady with the two voices“, „polyphonic vocalist does the impossible“ – these and other headlines have spread across the world.
Anna-Maria Hefele auf Youtube: “Andesana | polyphonic overtone singing”
Anna-Maria Hefele auf Youtube: “The Lady & The Cat – Bitte Erschieß Deine Gattin”
I Zefirelli (eng)
Copyright Bertrand Pichène Founded in Hamburg, the Ensemble I Zefirelli stands for a fresh breeze in the field of Early Music. With their experience in chamber and solo music, as well as in historical informed practice, I Zefirelli wishes to be a medium of intuitive and electrifying performances of baroque music. The ensemble is named after Zephyr, the God of the West Wind, also known as the herald of spring.
They performed at Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik and WDR3 Alte Musik and others.
For Mr. Handel in the Pub, an innovative program which brings the connection between baroque and folk music to life and which premiered in an English pub, the six musicians won a price of the Career Center at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg in 2017. The main musical focus lies on on the metropolis London and its musical life around 1700.
At the International H.I.F. Biber competition 2019 I Zefirelli won the price of the Westdeutscher Runkfunk (WDR) followed by a concert with broadcasting on WDR 3 Alte Musik. In 2021 they won the Bärenreiter Urtext-Preis at the international göttingen händel competition. For the final, they arranged the opera Berenice, Regina di Egitto just for the six members of the ensemble and completed the new work with compositions by themselves. In 2022 I Zefirelli was chosen to participate with EEEMERGING+, a program for ascending new ensembles in the field of early music, initiated by Creative Europe and the European Union.
The members of I Zefirelli compose, arrange and improvise a lot and with greatest pleasure: in 2020 they created a concert of improvisation at Nikolaisaal in Potsdam (free style) and composed two own cantatas in 2021.
Harmonic Brass (eng)
Copyright Tobias Epp Harmonic Brass was founded in 1991. In 1997 the musicians, who have all studied music at university and have had jobs in different professional German orchestras, decided to dedicate their time, exclusively, to the Harmonic Brass Quintet.
Their repertoire includes classical masterpieces, also well as their own arrangements, compositions and modern music from around the world. The ensemble performs brass music from different styles and eras. Harmonic Brass concerts are accompanied by charming and humorous announcements in between the music by Andreas Binder. He is the french horn player of the group and a most wonderful host. Harmonic Brass takes the audience by the hand and leads them away from their daily sorrows and routines into a world of music and joy.
This outstanding brass ensemble has been setting benchmarks, in terms of powerful yet elegant sound and an extraordinary choice of music, for more than 20 years.
During their career they have been touring all over Europe, Japan, South Korea, the USA, South-America, the Middle-East and the Far-East, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. They have created the musical framework for various events for well known companies such as Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen. Harmonic Brass have also recorded 38 different CDs.
With their publishing house & label, BRASS WORKS MUNICH, they offer arrangements and compositions for brass ensembles in different settings (www.brass-works-munich.de). In addition to their concerts, they are well requested as teachers for workshops and clinics all around the globe.
Harmonic Brass auf Youtube: „Rondo Alla Turca” (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Arr. for Brass Quintet)
