30 Mar Jürg Frey and EXAUDI Vocal Ensemble
Voices is an album of remarkable depth, a musical experience that surprises even those familiar with Jürg Frey’s music. The works it contains retain the stillness and radical nature of Frey’s instrumental music, yet the inclusion of text and voices introduces a new narrative dimension, leading the listener to unexplored territories. The paradox lies in its overwhelming simplicity and genuine beauty, making it accessible to any sensitive listener. This is fiercely new music, built on simple elements that seem impossibly renewed in this way. The interpretation, however, posed an extreme challenge, masterfully tackled by the vocal ensemble EXAUDI in a true state of grace. The recording was made at London’s Temple Church in Dolby Atmos format, using an immersive, highly natural microphone system without spot mics or added artificial reverb, to preserve the timbre and interaction of the voices, as well as the essence of the proposal. It is a true honor for Neu Records to present this album.
Artistic Director James Weeks on Voices:
“I’m excited and proud to share this recording of Jürg Frey’s music for voices – most of it written especially for EXAUDI – which we recorded over several nights in London in the high summer of 2022. This is music of deep feeling and quiet wonder: Jürg is a truly unique musical spirit, and for me these pieces open up quite new realms of vocal expression, fragile, intimate and profoundly human. We’ve been honoured to collaborate with him on this special set of works. I hope it finds the wide audience it deserves.”
