Above All Roses

Description

BernChor21 celebrates its 25th stage anniversary in 2027. To mark this anniversary, it is creating a special concert bouquet under the motto "Above All Roses," featuring works for a cappella choir and percussion, and a commissioned composition by the composer Julia Schwartz for this unusual ensemble. BernChor21 Percussion Art Ensemble Bern, Daniel Scheidegger, Ferdinand Heiniger, Oliver Schär and Simon Forster Ewald Lucas, conductor The focus is on the title world premiere by Julia Schwartz for choir and percussion ensemble. Flowers are sung about in all cultures of the world. Often the songs are simply about general blooming, e.g., the splendor of blossoms in spring (C. Schürch: Fluras, R. Edwards: Flower Songs). Often flowers also stand for the awakening nature, for love, or for life itself (B. Britten: Five Flower Songs, C. Schürch: La matta e la rosa). Some flowers also have symbolic meanings or possible uses as medicinal plants, which sometimes clearly, sometimes only subtly resonate in the song (C. Charrière: Flowers, T. Takemitsu: Sakura, H. Alfvén: Uti vår hage). Thus, flowers often express things that are difficult to put into words. The choir pieces are complemented by compositions for percussion ensemble by Jacqueline Fontyn (Floraison, after Paul Klee's painting "Blühendes") and John Cage (Quartet).