Stimmwerck is a…highly respected German male vocal ensemble: Franz Vitzthum, countertenor; Klaus Wenk and Gerhard Hölzle, tenor; and Marcus Schmidl, bass-baritone. They are joined, for just one number, by soprano Nele Gramß, the penultimate one, Thomas Stoltzer’s model of Renaissance polyphony,
O admirabile commercium. Elsewhere in the program, they’re tastefully accompanied by lute and percussion (Christoph Eglhuber), organ (Michael Ebert), and harp (Reinhild Waldek), lute and organ having the odd solo here and there. Joyful, yes.
Interspersed with the Renaissance and Baroque compositions are a number of Gregorian chants that add to the air of austere beauty the whole program maintains.
The Christophorus engineers
provide sound that perfectly balances intimacy with a churchly ambience. Even the artwork is just perfect for the occasion: Lorenzo Lotto’s Adoration of the Shepherds, with its bittersweet foreshadowing of the Passion. I can’t think of a better way to spend Christmas Eve than in the company of Stimmwerck and friends. © 2012 Audiophile Audition Read complete review
