canti popolari

With Anna Gschwend (soprano), Salome Cavegn (alto), Philipp Claßen (tenor) and Israel Martins (bass), the "ensemble ipsa" unites four outstanding voices of the Swiss vocal scene.

The first concert of the newly founded "ensemble ipsa" has a title rich in associations: "canti popolari" – folk songs, in other words – but why Italian, and how should this be done with the composers named in the programme?
To anticipate the punch line right away: all compositions performed today either go back to songs that were once called folk songs or have taken on their function – or lead the listener on the (wrong) folk song trail with their title.
At the same time, it should be noted that all pieces to be heard today are art music in the empathetic sense of the word and were compositionally designed with this high standard.

The programme includes works by Hugo Distler, Giacinto Scelsi, Mani Matter, Erich Igor Kahn and Leonhard Lechner. It is framed by texts from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn".

Anna Gschwend, soprano
Salome Cavegn, alto
Philipp Claßen, Tenor
Israel Martins, Bass

Ahmed E. Lüthi, Recitation

Burkhard Kinzler, Director