Festive hymns of praise for 50 years of "Audite Nova"

From a small group of singers to one of the largest vocal formations in Central Switzerland: the Zug choir Audite Nova is performing a major concert on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, including the world premiere of a commissioned work.

When Paul Kälin from Zug founded a singing group from a handful of men and women in 1971, it would probably not have occurred to anyone that this would one day become one of the largest choirs in Central Switzerland. With diligence, discipline and determination, Kälin gradually built up the group, with the name "Choir of Young People from Zug" and appeared in public for the first time on 12 June of the same year – in the Chlösterli retirement home in Unterägeri.

As the young Zug choir initially focused on the music of the Renaissance, it soon took on its current name "Audite Nova", taken from a madrigal by Orlando di Lasso (1532–1594) with exactly this title. "And this name, which translates as 'Hear something new', still fits the direction of the choir," says choirmaster Johannes Meister, who has led the choir since 1999.

Even though Audite Nova regularly develops and performs older music, new music also has a lot of room in its repertoire. At the upcoming anniversary concert in the Unterägeri parish church, for example, the concert includes the world premiere of a work commissioned from the Zug composer Carl Rütti. The almost 100-strong Zug choir is celebrating its 50th anniversary, which has had to be  postponed by one year due to the corona pandemic.

Lively exchange and openness to new ideas
Even in Paul Kälin's time, the Zug Choir was keen to network. "That was just as important to the founder as it is for us today," says Johannes Meister.

Audite Nova maintains relationships with choirs and orchestras from near and far, and also travels to visit partner formations. "This is enormously enriching, gives us some great encounters and friendships are formed," says Andreas Derungs, president of the choir since 2017. "Through the networking, the choir has become very solid, there is a strong cohesion, everyone pulls together," he continues.

"And the voluntary commitment to the choir beyond the singing itself is also huge among all the members."

Even after 50 years, the Zug choir succeeds in being attractive to the next generation. Andreas Derungs sees a reason for this in the broad repertoire of the choir, as well as in its openness to new things. "We consciously choose concert formats that also appeal to young people and make them want to sing along with us. These are musical experiences that fulfil the participants through all generations."

Justifiably proud of their successful choir: the musical director Johannes Meister (left) and president Andreas Derungs                Photo: Jan Pegoraro, Zug
The choir Audite Nova always attracts a large audience, as here at a concert with the Sinfonietta in the parish church Unterägeri in November 2018                     Photo: Maria Schmid
The Audite Nova choir has often been a guest at the Theatre Casino Zug             Photo: Jan Pegoraro, Zug

From his decades of experience as a choirmaster, Johannes Meister knows that the next generation can also be inspired by sacred choral literature. He seems to have a knack for it, or at least that's what club president Derungs attests to him.

"He has the right instinct and knows exactly what suits the choir – and, of course, what the audience will like."

At this point, the two spontaneously recall the concert with Monteverdi's work “Vespro Della Beata Vergine”. "That was really exhilarating, the whole choir was carried away," recalls the musical director, and describes this Vespers as a highlight of recent years.

There were many other highlights, however. Johannes Meister and Andreas Derungs vividly remember several of the choir's great moments. They celebrated the anniversary concert in 1981 with Handel's "Messiah", and with Mozart's "Requiem" in 1991. The programme for the 30th anniversary was much more modern, with Gloria compositions by Poulenc, Sutermeister and Rutter. And on the occasion of the 40th, the choir performed "Songs for Peace", a commissioned work by the Schwyz composer Hansjörg Römer.

Songs of praise for the creation
Audite Nova is now continuing in this vein for its 50-year-anniversary – with a particularly extensive line-up: the choir is supported by the ladies of the Zug Chamber Choir and the concert choir of the Zug Music School, with the large formation accompanied instrumentally by the Zug Sinfonietta, and, with Gabriela Bürgler, Claudia Iten, Michael Feyfar and Markus Volpert, vocal soloists with well-founded concert experience have been recruited.

The anniversary programme on the coming weekend includes the above- mentioned commissioned work by Carl Rütti, with the title “Benedizione di San Francesco”. In terms of content, it is based on the words of blessing of Francis of Assisi to his faithful confrere Leo. The central themes of this Rütti work are based on motifs in the oratorio by Hermann Suter (1870–1926) “Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi”.

Suter wrote this great work of praise for the creation of the earth in 1923. In it, the composer sets natural and celestial moods to music, as well as the ups and downs of human life, in a sound-painterly manner and with different musical stylistic references. "Suter's 'Le Laudi' was the choir's dream work for this anniversary," says Johannes Meister. "We already performed it 18 years ago."

What's next?
The anniversary concert is, of course, the most important event for Audite Nova in the current year. But they are already planning and looking beyond it. In addition to foreseeable projects, such as participation in the Zug Choir Night in September, the "Stabat Mater op. 58” by Antonín Dvořák is a work that stands particularly high on the to-do list of Johannes Meister. "Unfortunately, this couldn’t be performed last year due to the corona pandemic, which is why we want to make up for it," says the conductor.

But Audite Nova is also looking ahead organisationally. "There are some questions to clarify, that we wanted to ask ourselves for some time, but the pandemic intervened," says Andreas Derungs. Specifically, it’s a question of whether a committee made up of lay persons is still feasible for a choir of this format, or whether it requires professionalisation. Arranging the rehearsals, the financing, the organisation and the planning are quite a challenge for volunteers.

"It's important that we don't miss the boat," says Johannes Meister, putting it into general words. The long-standing choirmaster himself has openly stated that he does not want to rule out the possibility of making way for a younger successor in the foreseeable future. "A rejuvenation of this kind is ultimately part of the responsibility of an artistic director."

Whatever the changes at the "top" of the choir may look like, one thing will remain the same: Audite Nova will continue to attach great importance to always being innovative and to facing the signs of the times in order to remain attractive for young singers.

«Le Laudi», anniversary concert «50 Years of Audite Nova» with works by Hermann Suter and Carl Rütti. Unterägeri Parish Church on Saturday, June 11, 8 p.m., and on Sunday, June 12, 5 p.m.
Tickets and further information can be found at www.auditenova.ch.