Dear a cappella fans, amarcord presents We always pledged that the a cappella Festival would take place this year in some form or other. And even if we’d originally hoped for it to be a more extensive, more shared experience than is cur- rently possible, the 2021 festival will still deliver a broad and extraordinarily uplifting kaleidoscope of vocal music! Together with us members of amarcord, the ensembles VOXID from Leipzig, LaLeLu from Hamburg, and the German Gents from Berlin will be giving a series of a cappella performances by German groups that couldn’t be more different. You can look forward to consummate polyphony from the Renaissance, romantic songs and charming close-harmony sing- ing, as well as sassy comedy and sophisticated vocal pop. We’re particularly delighted that two ensembles from the far reaches of Europe – the barbershop world champions Ringmasters from Sweden and the up-and-coming Renaissance quartet Cantoría from Spain – will also be contributing their qualities and traditions, hence bringing a cappella from abroad to the 2021 festival. The ensembles Ordinarius from the heart of South America, Anúna from Ireland (albeit with a highly international line-up), and Musica Univeralis (which brings together singers from France, Belgium and Germany) are, to our regret and theirs, currently unable to perform or travel – but at least they’ve been firmly scheduled for next year’s festival. In our singing, INTERnatIONAL we intend to convey as much enthusiasm and confidence to them as we do to all the young compe- tition entrants whom we look forward to hearing in our International a cappella Contest next year. festivalOF VOCAL MUSIC LEIPZIG We hope very much that you and all the participating artists enjoy a string of wonderful concerts. We’re determined to keep the (a cappella) music playing – so please keep coming back for more! April 30-May 9 2021 As for us, we’re looking forward to every single minute! Best wishes, a-cappella-festival.com amarcord #acfl2021 Friday April 2021 Main Partner 30 8pm Thomaskirche amarcord Patrons Germany Photo: Nick Begbie IN AETERNUM Josquin des Préz zum 500. Todestag Culturpartner Franco-Flemish vocal polyphony finds its apogee in the work of a man who was courted by princes and music publishers, revered by contemporaries like Martin Luther, and respected by fellow Media composers and singers like no other: Josquin des Prez, darling of the gods. He managed to fuse contrapuntal arts with verbal expression, techne with ars, brain with heart in an unparalleled manner. Performing a programme of Josquin’s Marian masses and motets in this, the 500th an- niversary of his death, amarcord will be paying tribute to a man whose work moved people – and Other sponsors who simultaneously aspired to eternity. 7.15pm Introductory talk (free) on www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig 8.00pm Conzert free on ARTE+ Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/103385-000-A/josquin-des-prez-zum-500-todestag-ensemble-amarcord/ TICKETS Cooperationspartner Current information www.a-cappella-festival.de Festival ticket here Saturday 1 May 2021 Saturday 1 May 2021 11am Live chat 8pm Stream Prof. Dr. Michael Fuchs & on the Sofia kyrka in Stockholm Germany Sweden PD Dr. Corinna Pietsch Ringmasters Photo: Prof. Dr. Michael Fuchs Photo: Universität Leipzig Photo: Annika Falkuggla Everybody’s Talking about Corona: It’s Showtime! Singing and professional vocals in the Covid-19 era Der Name Ringmasters steht für ausgezeichneten Barbershop-Gesang – made in Sweden und von bestechender Qualität. Tatsächlich wurde die Gruppe aus Stockholm 2012 bei der Welt- In 2020, the seminar on the voice held by Professor Michael Fuchs, head of the Department meisterschaft der Barbershopper als erstes nicht-amerikanisches Ensemble zum besten Barber- of Phoniatry and Audiology at Leipzig University Hospital, was livestreamed for the first time. shop-Quartett der Welt gekürt. In Schweden hat ihr Sound Konjunktur, und die Ringmasters It went down so well with the a cappella audience that we’ve decided to host this year’s seminar begeistern Zuhörer von Las Vegas bis Taipeh. Neben Barbershop-Klassikern singt das Quartett devoted to singing and coronavirus online, too – this time with additional input from auch Songs von den Beatles, den Beach Boys oder ABBA, Evergreens aus Musicals und Disney- Dr Corinna Pietsch, a well-known virologist and infection epidemiologist from Leipzig Univer- Filmen sowie traditionelle Lieder aus Schweden und der Welt. All das mit höchster Präzision, sity. Fans of vocal music can put their questions to the ENT specialist and the virus expert both himmlischem Blending, viel Charme und großer Leidenschaft. Freuen Sie sich auf beeindruckende before and during the video chat – and pick up plenty of new, essential tips straight from the Stimmpower und wahrhaft goldene Kehlen aus dem hohen Norden! horses’ mouth! Questions are welcomed by email [email protected] or can be 7.15pm Introductory talk (free) on posted on the festival’s Facebook page. www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig The live chat can be seen on 1 May on www.a-cappella-festival.de as well as on the festival’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig. TICKETS Don’t forget to tune in! Current information www.a-cappella-festival.de Festival ticket here SÄCHSISCHES Sunday 2 May 2021 3pm Live-Stream from Schauspiel Leipzig LaLeLu Germany 8. MAI – 25. MAI 2021 Photo: Mathias Knoppe Family Concert on Sunday Afternoon ‘LaLeLu’ may be a popular lullaby in Germany, but this lively ensemble named after it isn’t exactly known for its gentle good-night songs. Quite the contrary: LaLeLu from Hamburg prefer to hit the spot with their lyrics, while musically they go full blast, making the stage wobble and the diaphragm tremble! The 2020 Family Concert will feature an abridged (but still fantastic!) overview of the group’s greatest hits. LaLeLu are known for sweeping their audience away in mad masquerades and also their unadulterated a cappella coupled with loads of fun, making the Family Concert a must for vocal music fans of all ages! The family concert can be viewed free of charge on www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig Brüderlichkeit – Evolution jkw Janoska-Ensemble – Netzwerkorchester – Leitung: Oksana Lyniv TICKETS Die originale Mozartvioline – Midori Seiler Klassik meets Breakdance – Breakdancegruppe Dancefloor Current information Concilium Musicum Wien – Auryn Quartett – Klenke Quartett u. v. m. In cooperation with www.a-cappella-festival.de Gesamtprogramm auf www.mozart-sachsen.de/termine-tickets Festival ticket here Sunday 2 May 2021 Monday 3 May 2021 8pm Live-Stream 8pm Live-Stream from Schauspiel Leipzig from the Lutheran Reformed Church Germany Germany LaLeLu German Gents Photo: Philip Deutenbach Beauties and the Beast Bock Marcel Photo: It Began with a Kiss at the Front Door Prize-winners’ concert LaLeLu from Hamburg have been combining pure a cappella with unerring comedy and humour in their shows for 25 years. This tireless quartet is continuously creative, as the members have The German Gents caused a sensation as both acclaimed winners and audience favourites of the demonstrated in countless live concerts as well as in recent months in a series of video podcasts 2019 International a cappella Contest. Having met in the Berlin State and Cathedral Choir in 2018, and livestreams. ‘Beauties and the Beast’ is the 15th programme by these three men apparently the four singers are still only in their early twenties, yet their magnificent vocal maturity belies their accompanied by Superwoman! In it, they address vital themes, such as whether declarations of love age. They’re especially fond of music for male choirs from the Romantic era and folk songs as well can legitimately be grunted and what Papageno does on holiday on Majorca. With classical music as early music, classical modern music and barbershop. Their prize-winners’ concert will show us meeting pop, Mozart appears alongside Shakira, Serge Gainsbourg and even football coach that this is a group that’s going places! Their new programme tells of the joys and sorrows of love, Joachim Löw! LaLeLu deliver unsurpassed quickfire harmony vocals, parody and slapstick. and takes us from the romantic worlds of Felix Mendelssohn to the frivolous times of the It’s not for nothing that this group has been described as the yardstick of German music Comedian Harmonists and barbershop music. Love simply can’t be avoided in vocal music comedy heaven. Well, now they’re in a cappella heaven in Leipzig! – and especially not during this performance by the German Gents! 7.15pm Introductory talk (free) on 7.15pm Introductory talk (free) on www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig TICKETS TICKETS TICKETS Current information Current information 22 PG normal In cooperation with www.a-cappella-festival.de www.a-cappella-festival.de18 Rentner/Leipzig Card Festival ticket here Festival ticket 14here Ermäßigt Friday 7 May 2021 8pm Stream from »Sala Domenech i Montaner« the Sant Pau Modernist Recinte Cantoría Spanien Photo: Marti Artalejo Lenguas Malas Although only founded in 2016, the young quartet Cantoría has already made a name for itself with performances at numerous European festivals and prominent venues where vocal music is cultivated, especially in their native Spain and the Benelux countries. Their programme may be about ‘malicious tongues’, but it’s full of glorious a cappella sounds. In selected Spanish works of secular polyphony from the 15th and 16th centuries, the quartet helps us understand how just how important earthly passion and religious devotion – both separately and together – were for Patron the people of the time. Their performance will include music from the ‘Cancioneros’ (historical Spanish anthologies) as well as ensaladas by Mateo Flecha el Viejo. 7.15pm Introductory talk (free) on contest www.youtube.com/c/acappellaleipzig TICKETS April 28 to 30, 2022 Current information www.a-cappella-festival.de a-cappella-contest.com #accl2022 Festival ticket here Saturday 8 May 2021 8pm Livestream from Kupfersaal VOXID Germany Photo: Marcus Fröhner Shades of Light Pt.