Calmus Ensemble | 24. Internationale A-cappella-Woche Hannover

In the organizer's words:

in the beginning - at the end
Tradition meets innovation: a special kind of a cappella experience

For over 25 years, the Leipzig-based Calmus Ensemble has been combining classical repertoire with new musical discoveries, performing world premieres and moving audiences with its unmistakable sound culture. Their common thread: rich tonal colors, homogeneous vocal balance, attention to detail and interpretation close to the text. The program reflects the ensemble's almost unlimited range of repertoire - from the St. Thomas Choir tradition of its founders to Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic vocal music to contemporary compositions.

We begin - with a breath, a sound, with the thought that everything could have been different. The climate crisis is not a distant storm. It is the whisper in the trees, the crack in the ice - and the silence. Nevertheless, we put our thoughts and feelings into music: it connects times, people, voices and bodies. It does not forget, but it comforts; it laments, but it opens. In a world in which what divides is often louder than what unites, this concert sets an example: Music as a bridge between people, opinions, perspectives and facts. William Byrd's "Mass for Five Voices" was composed in times of upheaval. It is a prayer for forgiveness and hope and a plea for time. Ludwig Böhme's "in the beginning - at the end" reminds us of the beginning of the world and our responsibility towards it. Harald Banter's "Elements of Being" names what remains when everything falters. Ēriks Ešenvalds' "Trees" and Frank Ticheli's "Earth Song" celebrate nature and harmony. Leonard Cohen's works offer a look at the contradictions of our world and the cracks in it, and that light can sometimes shine through these very cracks. The program "in the beginning - at the end" is an invitation to listen and empathize and creates encounters between people, the environment, the past and the future.

The Calmus Ensemble is one of the most successful vocal groups in Germany. With the latest release "Liebesleid", the quintet has released 28 recordings to date and won a whole host of international prizes and competitions - most recently the OPUS KLASSIK 2019 "Best Choral Recording". They have commissioned and premiered numerous compositions over the years, including works by Paul Moravec, Mathew Rosenblum, Steffen Schleiermacher, Wolfram Buchenberg, Bill Dobbins, Mia Makaroff, Gordon Kampe and, as recently as 2024, Bernd Franke ("face to face") and Harald Banter ("Elemente des Seins"). Pop, folk and jazz arrangements round off the repertoire, as evidenced by numerous sheet music publications. At the Choir Day in Mainz Cathedral in September 2024, the Calmus singers were heard in an a cappella concert with around 1,500 singers and as soloists under the direction of Sir John Rutter himself. They teach internationally, give workshops and are heavily involved in promoting young talent, for example as patrons of the Wernigerode Radio Youth Choir.

The concert will take place as part of the 24th International A Cappella Week Hanover (April 25 to May 3, 2026). More information at: www.acappellawoche.com

Since 2001, the Hanover International A cappella Week has been inspiring the lively choral scene in the city and its surroundings for almost a quarter of a century. Founded by Sandra van de Loo and Roger Cericius, the festival quickly developed from a one-off event to an annual highlight, only taking a break in 2020/21 due to the pandemic. Every year, established greats of the a cappella world meet up with up-and-coming newcomers and present themselves and their skills in concerts that could not be more diverse. Exciting workshops and master classes during the festival also give rise to new musical collaborations that enrich the regional cultural landscape in the long term. To date, over 200 concerts with several thousand international artists have been presented, delighting around 100,000 visitors from all over the world. As one of the two leading vocal festivals in Germany (alongside Leipzig), the Hanover International A Cappella Week is regarded internationally as a beacon of the scene.