Rupert Huber, the conductor, is a distinguished Austrian composer and conductor who considers singing to be the most immediate form of music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolfgang Rihm, the composer, views "Vigilia" not as liturgical music, but as a depiction of an intellectual and agnostic man engaging with a deeply Christian cultural context.
Performer Biography
The Ensemble Modern, founded in 1980, is a leading ensemble for contemporary music, known for having no artistic director and making decisions jointly.
Compositional Technique
Wolfgang Rihm's "Vigilia" uses a concatenated form, alternating between instrumental and vocal ensembles seven times before they converge in the final 'Miserere'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Wolfgang Rihm believes that the best introduction to art is art itself, and that frequent engagement with it sharpens the senses more than listening to an artist's explanations.
Composer Biography
Wolfgang Rihm, the composer, initially wanted to be a priest, drawn by the rituals and theatrical elements of the church rather than a desire to preach.
Interpretation
The present recording of "Vigilia" features a choral version where each vocal part is sung by four singers, a suggestion made by conductor Rupert Huber and approved by composer Wolfgang Rihm.
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Till ängeln med de brinnande händerna (To the Angel with the fiery hands)
