WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING BY UUSINTA ENSEMBLE AND HELSINKI CHAMBER CHOIR

The new album (CD / Digital Download) by Uusinta Ensemble with Helsinki Chamber Choir and conductor Nils Schweckendiek was released in August 2016 by Toccata Classics.

The album presents music of Beat Furrer, Swiss-born (in 1954) and Vienna-based, who has long attracted attention for its subtle exploration of the possibilities of the human voice. This first recording of his enigmas I-VI for mixed choir a cappella (2006-2013), a cycle of six a cappella settings of Leonardo (he has since added a seventh) demonstrates its striking emotional range, from rich, almost Romantic tonal warmth to dramatic avant-garde expressionism. It is complemented by two works, voices — still for mixed choir and ensemble (2001) and …cold and calm and moving for flute, harp, violin, viola and cello (1992) which underline Furrer’s fondness for exploring sonority, timbre and texture.

​Uusinta Ensemble
Helsinki Chamber Choir
Nils Schweckendiek, conductor