Brahms: Warum ist das Licht gegeben? Op. 74 No. 1

For his third album on Phi, his new label published by the group Outhere, Philippe Herreweghe has brought together a splendid set of artists in the Lutoslawski hall in Warsaw. Ann Hallenberg, whose voice won over the public of some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls, takes on the Rhapsody for contralto solo and men's chorus by Brahms while the rest of the programme leads the listener through his essential works for chorus and orchestra. Herreweghe’s long-time affinity with the composer of A German Requiem has enabled him to provide a coherent and personal vision of those musical pages in which Brahms gave free course to his most intimate thoughts.

Collegium Vocale Gent is joined in this endeavour by the members of the Accademia Chigiana of Sienna with whom it formed a European ensemble that was officially recognised as Cultural Ambassador of the European Union just a few months ago. Together with the Orchestre des Champs-Elysées and its authentic instrumentarium, this great choir interprets the Burial Song, the Song of Destiny, the Song of the Fates and the motet Warum ist das Licht gegeben. A great moment for all admirers of Brahms and fans of choral singing at its very best!

A journey in music through a year at Truro charting some of the major Festivals of the Church’s year from Advent to Christ the King.

A collection of both well-loved items and some less familiar works that might be heard at choral services in the Cathedral during the year.

The latest recording from the critically acclaimed fine choir of Truro Cathedral!

The forth release in Regent’s new ‘A Year at…’

International award-winning octet Voces8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella vocal group. Performing a repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour. ‘A Choral Tapestry’ explores the rich vocal timbres of sacred vocal music spanning five centuries. Interweaving genres create an ethereal sonic tapestry that centres around the haunting beauty of William Byrd's Mass for Four Voices. The programme includes anthems and motets from the English Chapel Royal, the Sistine Chapel in Rome and St. Thomas' Church, Leipzig

Having focused on music from their home country before, the Norwegian Soloists’ Choir here present a German programme, featuring two of the most influential composers in 19th-century choral music: Johannes Brahms and Franz Schubert.

It includes both sacred and secular music, scored for male, female and mixed choir a cappella and accompanied, starting with a selection from Brahms’s deservedly popular Zigeunerlieder for mixed choir and piano. A contrast to these settings of Hungarian folk songs is provided by the autumnal Five Songs for mixed choir a cappella – a collection of poems dealing with the transience of youth, love and life. The motet Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen, shows Bach’s influence on the composer.

Schubert is represented with a setting of Psalm 23 for women’s choir and piano and Der Gesang der Geister über den Wassern.

The international award-winning octet Voces8 has established itself as one of the foremost young British a cappella groups. Performing repertoire ranging from Renaissance polyphony to unique jazz and pop arrangements, the group has been praised for stunning performance, exquisite singing and creating a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour. Founded in 2003 by ex-choristers of Westminster Abbey, Voces8 first achieved success in 2005, winning first prize at the International Choral Grand Prix in Gorizia, Italy. Subsequently the group has performed widely in the UK, Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia.

The tradition of the Dresden Kreuzkirche choir stretches back seven centuries. The church’s four most recent directors of music are united in this collection, in which great sacred choral music illustrated the development of the boys’ choir from the beginning of the stereo era to the present day.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Kammerchor Stuttgart, Carus is releasing this CD of selected ‘a cappella’ choral works by Mendelssohn, Homilius, Brahms and Rheinberger. Many international awards bear witness to the high quality and the worldwide recognition of this outstanding ensemble. Taken from the back catalogue of recordings made between 1988 and 2005 this sumptuous release illustrates why this choir is recognized as the very best of its type in the world.