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Passio

P Psalm

Shows

Arvo Pärt Porträt Arvo Pärt’s St. John Passion is having another premiere when the Raschèr Saxophon Quartett Raschèr Saxophon Quartet , together with top-class singers, wraps the piece in the beguiling sound of their instruments.

Programme

What to expect

Arvo Pärt: Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi secundum Joannem (St John's Passion)
Premiere of the version for four saxophones, organ and voices

Duration: around 65 minutes without a break

Artists

Jelena Widmann I Jaroslava Pepper I Markus Sölkner I Florian Widmann, Evangelistes
Gerd Kenda, Jesus
Johannes Chum, Pilatus
Vocalforum Graz
Raschèr Saxophone Quartet
Christian Dolcet, Organ
Direction: Franz M. Herzog

Intro

20 minutes before each performance in the foyer, we will tell you about the story of the evening.

Tickets

Prices: EUR 52 | 28

Subscription (four performances of free choice)
Reductions: U27 / Ö1 Intro / Club Ö1

Content

the evocative sound of saxophones

John the Evangelist describes with relentless consistency how Jesus of Nazareth stands trial: the accusation is unjust; the evidence is lacking; the interrogation is unacceptable. Pilatus’s cynical question about truth does not stop him from imposing the maximum penalty: a cruel death on the cross. Arvo Pärt, the musical wizard from Estonia, has portrayed this narrative with archaic poignancy. He gave the Raschèr Quartet permission to use the evocative sound of saxophones for the Passion, and it is this version that is being performed here for the first time.

Cast

Jelena Widmann

Porträt Jelena Widmann
© Anna Beer
Soprano

The Serbian studied singing at the University of Arts in Graz, where she gained her first stage experience as Papagena in Mozart’s Magic Flute. But the soprano is not only successful as a concert singer: with the salon orchestra “Walzerperlen” she brings a breath of fresh air to Styria.

Jaroslava Pepper

Porträt Jaroslava Pepper
Mezzo soprano

Oratorios, concerts and operas: the Slovakian mezzo-soprano’s repertoire ranges from works of the Baroque to the Classical and Romantic periods, to music of the 20th century, and includes a wide variety of roles, such as that of Dorabella in Mozart’s “Così fan tutte”.

Markus Sölkner

Portät Markus Sölkner
Tenor

Before starting his career as a tenor, the Styrian studied music education, majoring in clarinet, as well as mathematics. In addition to his work as a teacher in Graz, he inspires as a soloist in numerous concerts and made his opera debut under the direction of Philipp Harnoncourt.

Florian Widmann

Florian Widmann Porträt
Bass

Born in Tyrol, he completed his vocal studies in Graz and attended master classes with renowned opera singers. The baritone can be heard internationally as a concert singer, in oratorios and cantatas as well as in songs and operettas and teaches at music schools in Kindberg and Feldbach.

Gerd Kenda

Gerd Kenda
© Werner Kmetitsch
Bass

Sein spezielles Händchen für wundervolle Chorereignisse ist im Hause styriarte ebenso bekannt wie seine markante Bassstimme: Der gebürtige Kärntner Gerd Kenda ist seit den 1980ern einer der präsentesten Protagonisten in der Grazer Gesangsszene. Seit 1985 leitet er den chor pro musica, der einer unserer Lieblingspartner für groß besetzte Vokalpartien ist.

Johannes Chum

Johannes Chum in weißem Hemd blickt direkt in die Kamera
© Stefan Pecovnik
Tenor

Born in Vorau, Styria, the tenor received his first musical training as a soloist with the Vienna’s Boy Choir and was subsequently discovered and engaged by none other than the renowned conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

Vocalforum Graz

Sänger des Vocalforum Graz unter Franz M. Herzog
© Peter Purgar
Chor

The voices of the Graz Chamber Choir shine clearly. Since its founding in 1986, the choir has not only enriched the local musical life, but has also celebrated guest performances near and far abroad. The musical focus is on the one hand on the early baroque, and on the other hand on the immediate present with numerous premieres and first performances.

Raschèr Saxophon Quartet

Raschèr Saxophon Quartett
© Felix Broede
Quartet

The ensemble continues a tradition started in the 1930s by Sigurd Raschèr, the pioneer of the classical saxophone and founder of the quartet. Like its namesake, the quartet has inspired numerous composers to dedicate works to it. Since its foundation in 1969, the ensemble has been at home in the world’s most renowned concert halls.

Christian Dolcet

Christian Dolcet
Organ

Born in Graz in 1980, the pianist received his musical education in his hometown, where he has been teaching at the Johann Joseph Fux Conservatory since 2008. Numerous prizes and awards have made him a sought-after soloist and chamber musician as well as an accompanist at international competitions.

Franz M. Herzog

Franz Herzog
Choir director

The Austrian conductor, composer and lecturer for choral conducting and choral voice training has already achieved numerous international successes. For his artistic direction of the "Voices of Spirit" festival, for example, he received the appreciation award of the Federal Ministry of Science and Research. In 2011 he founded the Gospel & Jazz Choir at the Johann-Joseph-Fux Conservatory in Graz, where he is currently the director of the choral conducting course.

All artists

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