Peñalosa-Ensemble

In 1996 four highly-regarded specialists in the early music scene, the soprano Susan Eitrich, the two tenors Sebastian Mory and Jörg Deutschewitz and bass Pierre Funck, joined forces to found an ensemble whose distinctive sound is both individual and blended, whose music-making is suffused with expressivity and color, and whose style is full of liveliness and authenticity. The group takes its name from the important Spanish Renaissance composer and singer Francisco de Peñalosa (c. 1470–1528), taking his work as the starting point for a journey which begins in the Franco-Flemish music of the 15th century, transcending epochs and extending to the works of contemporary composers. Active research in libraries, supported by a thorough knowledge of historical music theory and composition, forms the basis of the ensemble’s work; varied experience and active involvement in lieder and oratorio singing are the tools, everything with the aim of rescuing significant compositions and their creators from oblivion. The group has won prizes at international competitions several times, including 2001 in Friuli, Italy, and 2006 in Tolosa, Spain. Since 2007 the Peñalosa Ensemble has held a course for vocal ensembles annually; in 2008 it founded the “Reutlinger Renaissance Festival,” a new concert series in southern Germany. The ensemble also performs in larger groups and works regularly together with other like-minded singers and instrumentalists. It pursues a busy concert schedule at home and abroad and in addition has made several live recordings and a series of CDs.