Rossini for Male Voices

 

I was first introduced to the one (or two) -part-per-voice male ensemble from recordings of the King's Singers and Chanticleer.
In particular, the King's Singers married humor with their Early Music performances, and I could see this aspect rubbing Classical Music listeners the wrong way. For some reason, humor has that effect.

I mention this since the German ensemble Singphoniker is a one-voice-per-part male vocal group. They also take three of Rossini's overtures and give them the humorous vocal treatment. I am sure this will work effectively for some, yet not for others looking to explore the serious side of Rossini's choral music. I notice they also really pour on the over-wrought into Un Sou, but play the rest of the program fairly straight.

But, these are only three or four tracks out of 14. Otherwise, they sing Rossini's music beautifully, even if the arrangements and male chorus settings are not 100% Rossini. In some cases, solos or duets are expended to fit their quintet, or they take the soprano and alto lines as countertenors. Again, not a traditional approach, but another way to hear Rossini's music.

I recently traversed Rossini's choral music with the SWR Vokalensemble, a much larger, traditionally-sized mixed chorus, and equally German. In comparison, the Singphoniker are recorded more closely, yet escape sounding like a barbershop quartet or vocal jazz group. Musically, they take some of the shared pieces between the two recordings at a quicker, more lithe pace, showing Singphoniker's ability to move this music flexibly with their small numbers. Crucially, this injects some life into Rossini's sweet, gently lilting choral writing style.

On the other hand, I don't think Singphoniker contains as effortless or beautiful voices as some of the previously mentioned groups, nor is their ability with tight ensemble work as well oiled. Since there are not many recordings of Rossini's choral music, this doesn't bother me as much as it normally would with more recorded choices. Of course, the sub-60 minute runtime does.

 

A review from 2024

The German male vocal ensemble Singphoniker tackle the music of Rossini. Thankfully, the physical media addresses the fact only four of these works are actually written for male choir, while the others are accommodated by countertenors singing the soprano and alto parts, or completely arranged to meet the needs of their ensemble.

 

For this recording, Singphoniker is a quintet, with piano accompaniment for those pieces which require it. Two partsongs by Franz Schubert are included since they are written in the Italian style with an influence of Rossini. In addition to Rossini’s choral works, three of his famous orchestral opera overtures have been arranged for their group, to humorous effect.

Since this group sings one voice per part, they are very flexible with Rossini’s music, yet they are also sensitive to the music’s needs. Singphoniker certainly have a firm sense of rhythm, emphasis, and balance, and if the individual voices are not the most beautiful, they generally comes together successfully. They also might not be as tightly cohered of an ensemble as the King’s Singers, but an album dedicated strictly to Rossini is something to be celebrated.

 

Listen on YouTube

 

Performers
Die Singphoniker
Berno Scharpf, piano
Edgar Guggeis, percussion

Label: CPO
Year: 1993
Total Timing: 56.53

 

If wanting to hear Rossini receive the King's Singers treatment, here you go.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find more Rossini recordings HERE!