March 24 2001, 10 PM
Teatre Municipal El Jardí, Figueres
The Chorus Viennensis was founded in 1952 by Josef Schnitt, for many years in charge of the Vienna Boy's Choir and director of the Hofburg Chapel. It began as the Choralschola of the Vienna Hofburg Chapel and was conceived out of a desire to augment the Boys' Choir with a competent deep-voiced ensemble. Within a short time this ensemble had turned into top-level men's choir and to this day is composed entirely of former members of the Boys' Choir.
From 1956 to 1963, Ferdinand Grossmann trained and nurtured the Chorus Viennensis. His love of choral music and his excellent training have left their mark on the Chorus to this day. Several recordings were made under his successor Hans Gillesberger: church music by Haydn, Mozart and Schubert, as well as Bach Cantatas and Passions. By 1970 the Chorus Viennensis had started appearing independently of the Vienna Boy's Choir. Directed by Uwe Theimer and then Uwe Christian Harrer, they made their mark as an ensemble able to cope with difficult men's choral compositions. Today their concert repertoire covers music from all ages and the choir is at its best in the works of Schubert and various modern composers. It is now directed by Guido Mencusi, himself a former Choir Boy. In 1988 the Chorus Viennensis won first prize at the 5th Franz Schubert International Men's Choir Competition in Vienna. In 1991 it was awarded third prize at the 2nd International Chamber Choir Competition in Marktoberdorf. Under the aegis of Pater Hubert Dopf SJ, a group of chorus members has striven to maintain the Gregorian tradition for services in the Hofburg Chapel, achieving international recognition as one of the top specialists in Gregorian Chant.
PROGRAM
1st Part
Jacobus Gallus: In nomine Jesu
Giovanni Palestrina: O bone Jesu
Ludovico da Vittoria: Una hora, Tenebrae factae sunt, Ave Maria
Maurice Dureflet: Tota pulchra es Maria
Anton Heiller: Dem König aller Zeiten
Francois Poulenc: Quatre petites prieres
2nd Part
Anton Bruckner: Trösterin Musik
Franz Schubert: Der Lindenbaum
W.A.Mozart/A.Lortzing: Zauberflötenouverture
Paul Hindemith: The Demon of the Gibbet
Benjamin Britten: The Ballad of Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard
Gospel/Arr.G.Mancusi: Joshua fit the battle of Jerico
Gospel/Arr.G.Mancusi: Blue Moon
Johann Strauss: Feuerfestpolka, Rosen aus dem Süden
