Fresh wind with “tuuli”

The Chorus Sine Nomine was a real surprise at the occasion of the 150th jubilee of the Choir association from the Vorarlberg region. It was founded in 1991 by Johannes Hiemetsberger as a student choir. Success came as early as 1995, where it won the first prize at the ‘Bundesjugendsingen’. ‘tuuli’, the title of tonight’s show, is not your usual choir concert. It is a production for mixed chorus, soloists and percussion (Direction: Ela Baumann). Wind (‘tuuli’) is movement and brings movement. This is why the choir is almost constantly moving, both on stage and among the spectators.

Confrontation with rarity

The literature is barely known, especially in this particular arrangement. It goes from Bach to Ligeti and also to pieces especially written for Chorus Sine Nomine. In between those, three interludes are outstandingly interpreted by the percussionist and compositor Ingrid Oberkanins. This divides the show into four different parts with separate arcs of suspense. Outstanding is also the combination “Improvisation to Lux Aeterna”(Ligeti) and “Ostwind I+II” by Ingrid Oberkanins. The fourth part could not be any more different. “Rauda Needmine” by Veljo Tormis, an intricately woven contemporary choir piece, wonderfully interpreted, clashes against the the Calypso “Tipitipitipso”, which is shaped a refreshing and amusing impetus. This was joined by the never before heard “Agnus Dei” taken from the Mass in B Minorm and accompanied by an accordion which added a new twist to the traditional masterpiece. An enthralling evening with a superb choir which shelters amazing soloists, and with excellent percussionist in a very accomplished scenic composition. The audience in the full to the brim Kulturhaus was quite enthusiastic.