Advent's Concert

ADVENT'S CONCERT Art Vokal* - Ensamble vocale Direzione**: Kunibert Schäfer Program: 1st Advent Wreath candle: Hope. Symbol of the arrival of Jesus Christ. Introitus "Ad te levavi" Heinrich Schütz "Ich bin eine rufende Stimme" Hugo Distler "Ich brach drei dürre Reiselein" Zoltán Kodály "Adventi Ének" Max Reger "Und unser lieben Frauen Traum" 2nd Advent Wreath candle: Peace. Symbol of the birth of Jesus Christ. Introitus "Populus Sion" Heinrich Schütz "Verleih uns Frieden gnädiglich" Max Reger "Ich liege und schlafe ganz in Frieden" Heinrich Kaminsky "Psalm 130" Knut Nystedt "Peace I leave you" 3rd Advent Wreath candle: Joy. Symbol of Glory. Introitus "Gaudete in Domino" Johannes Eccard "Übers Gebirg Maria geht" Johannes Brahms "O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf" Johannes Sebastian Bach "Lobet den Herrn" 4th Advent Wreath candle: Love. Symbol of God's love. Introitus "Rorate coeli desuper" Anton Bruckner "Virga Jesse" Edvard Grieg "Ave maris stella" Anton Bruckner "ave Maria" *The Art Vokal choir under the direction of Kunibert Schäfer was founded in November 2021 by members of the "New Chamber Choir of the HfKM" in Regensburg. The motivation was and is the interpretation of sophisticated choral music at a high artistic level. The small ensemble of dedicated and experienced amateurs, who perform together with young professional musicians, allows the contrasts in sound that arise from the clash of different eras to be ideally realised. In October 2022, the choir recorded its first CD in collaboration with the composer Enjott Schneider. The ensemble was invited by the German Music Council as a competition choir for the Conductors' Forum 2024. **Kunibert Schäfer (1957*) studied church music, organ and singing in Regensburg and Munich. Since 1990, he has not only been active as a musician, but also passes on his knowledge to students. First as an organ teacher, then as head of the choir and conducting department at the Academy for Catholic Church Music in Regensburg. In 2003, he was appointed professor for this subject area at the new University of Sacred Music in Regensburg. He has a particular passion for the music of contemporary composers, which he was able to make accessible to a wide audience as the long-standing director of the concert series "Erstmal Neues". This created a new space for contemporary music in Regensburg. Due to his good contacts with contemporary composers, he is repeatedly entrusted with the task of presenting the latest works. In this professional activity, he has the opportunity to draw on his entire wealth of experience to experiment with unexpected and sometimes edgy sounds, tread previously unknown paths and ultimately create something completely new. His willingness to leave his comfort zone in favour of further development connects him with the young and ambitious ensemble Art Vokal, which he has led since its foundation.