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The Cappella Nova Graz, which is devoted exclusively of sacred choral music, was founded in 1983. The main intention of the ensemble is the uncompromising confrontation with the musical language of different composers, to achieve the highest sound intensity and significance in the interpretation. The choir promotes performance with a single style or even a composer for a long time for a deeper understanding of singing, articulation and emotion, leading to a corresponding sense of style. Under the leasership of the artistic director Otto Kargl the concert programmess of the Cappella Nova Graz include sacred music from 18th to 20th cecturies.
Through consistent musical work the ensemble has gained for several years a name as "first-class vocal culture" (Neue Zeit). In 1993 Cappella Nova Graz won prize at the choir competition of the Union of European Broadcasting Union (EBU), in 1997 the choir was awarded the Ferdinand Grossmann Prize for their "exemplary performance in the field of choral performance, especially for their exemplary performance of contemporary choral literature".
The repertoire of the choir includes: J.S. Bach: Johannes-Passion (BWV 245), Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), Mass in B minor (BWV 232), motets, cantatas; Johann Nepomuk David: Evangelienmotetten; Gesualdo: motets; Georg Frideric Handel, Messiah, Dixit Dominus; Anton Heiller: Vesper, motets; Lechner: Sprüche von Leben und Tod, Das Hohelied Salomonis, Johannespassion; Monteverdi: Vespers, motets; W.A. Mozart: Requiem, C minor Mass; Pärt: Magnificat; Schlee: Der Baum des Heils (UA), Dann steht der Mandelbaum in Blüte (UA), ...und ich sah (UA); Heinrich Schütz: Johannespassion, Die sieben Worte, Auferstehungshistorie, Geistliche Chormusik, Exequien; Michael Radulescu: Deutsche Messe in F; Strobl: Vesper (UA); Wolf: Sechs geistliche Lieder; Masses of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Biber, Johann Joseph Fux; Music of the Bach family; Church music of the Wiener Hofkapelle (Vienna Court Orchestra), Church music by Haydn and W.A. Mozart
Appearances at prestigious music festivals at home and abroad, including at the Internationalen Musikwochen Millstatt, at the Festival für Alte Musik in Konstanz (Germany), at the Musica Sacra in Linz, ORFEO - Reihe vokaler Ereignisse in Graz, the Internationalen Orgelfest in pencil Zwettel, at the Abendmusiken in Graz-Mariahilf, at the Oberösterreichischen Stiftskonzerten , in the Eggenberger Schloßkonzerten in Graz, at the Seckauer Kulturwochen, the Aschermittwoch der Künstler at Michaelerkirche in Vienna, at the Festival Musica Sacra in St. Pölten,at the Brixner Initiative Musik und Kirche and at the the Schottenkirche in Vienna, many of these concerts were recorded by the ORF. |
