In its latest project, the Chorus sine nomine, one of Austria’s leading choirs, under its director Johannes Hiemetsberger has turned to a very special work: the Miserere by Gregorio Allegri in an arrangement for saxophone and three choirs a cappella by Vladimir Ivanoff.
The setting of the 51st Psalm from the 1630s, which is uniquely captivating due to its simplicity, was a fixed component of the liturgy of Easter week in the Sistine Chapel in Rome for over 250 years and soon achieved cult status because of the high penalties on its ‘pirate copy’. Here, the three-choir ensemble is in a subtle equilibrium with Michael Krenn (saxophone) and meets any trace of sentimental mush with the respect due.
Founded by Johannes Hiemetsberger in 1991, the Chorus sine nomine ranks among Austria’s leading vocal ensembles. They are guests at festivals and venues such as the Vienna Konzerthaus, the Vienna Musikverein, Osterklang Wien, the Bruckner Festival in Linz, Styriarte, the Salzburg Festival, ‘Pfingsten+Barock’ and the Music Festival in Grafenegg, and appear regularly in the concert series of the Musical Youth of Austria (Jeunesse), with which the choir is associated in a special partnership.
Beyond the Austrian borders, in recent years the Chorus sine nomine has been heard in Germany, South Tyrol, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Croatia, Poland and Hungary, as well as on extensive tours to the Philippines, Taiwan, the USA and South America.
