Calmus Ensemble members are soprano Anja Lipfert, countertenor Sebastian Krause, tenor Tobias Pöche, baritone Ludwig Böhme and bass Joe Roesler. Including a woman in the lineup is a bold move for an ensemble like this; the blend of soprano and countertenor timbres is the Calmus Ensemble's most distinguishing feature. The effect was particularly arresting when Lipfert's and Krause's vocal lines crossed, or when Krause took the higher line, as he did in Bach's "Herr, nicht schicke deine Rache (Lord, send not thy wrath)." In another Bach chorale, "Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam (Christ the Lord came to Jordan)," arranged by Böhme, the baritone took the lead.
Music of Bach and his forerunner Heinrich Schütz dominated the first half of the program; the second half offered more stylistic variety, with works of Mendelssohn, Max Reger, and 20th-century composers Kurt Thomas and Hugo Distler. The closing selection, Distler's "Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied (Sing a new song to the Lord)," was especially thrilling, with the higher voices bursting into sonic bloom above the lower voices' chant.
The entire evening was like a clinic in precise intonation, impeccable blending and vocal beauty. As the final notes of each selection resonated in the spacious Cathedral of the Madeleine, the five singers seemed to relish the effect as much as the audience did. The Calmus Ensemble offered Reger's aptly titled "Nachtlied (Evensong)" as an encore.
Calmus Ensemble
* WHERE: Cathedral of the Madeleine, 331 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City.
* WHEN: Sunday.
* BOTTOM LINE: A virtual clinic in precise intonation, impeccable blending and vocal beauty.
* NEXT: The Madeleine Festival continues Sunday at 8 p.m. with Brady Allred leading University of Utah choral ensembles in Monteverdi's Vespers. Admission is free.
