Leveleleven can rarely be experienced live because the group is formed by a combination of Rajaton from Finland and The Real Group from Sweden. However, when these 11 singers get together on the stage, their public experiences an a cappella concert of the superlative class. Leveleleven will of course not be the only star performers at this year's festival: audiences can also look forward to concerts by Gothic Voices from Great Britain, one of the world's most prestigious ensembles performing the vocal music of the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, as well as basta from Cologne, whose sense of humour and musical skills have made them one of Germany's best and most popular a cappella groups.
Appearing for the first time in Leipzig is the La Colombina ensemble, who will be performing a programme featuring vocal music from 16th century Spain. In the form of Fool Moon and Jazzation, the winners of Leipzig's 2015 international a cappella competition, no less than two groups from Hungary will be appearing and performing the best of a cappella pop and jazz. A further highlight will be the singers of Shavnabada from Georgia, who inspire audiences with the traditional songs of their homeland.
Opening concert featuring amarcord
The founders and artistic organisers of the festival, the Leipzig ensemble amarcord, will this year be opening the festival with romantic vocal music by a range of European composers, including Grieg, Janáček and - in the year commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death - Max Reger.
Forums and lectures
The highly diverse concert programme is supplemented by a range of discussions with the artists who will be performing. A wealth of information will be available, for example, about the techniques of performing ancient music, the traditions of Georgian song or the interplay between song and humour. In addition there will be an introductory lecture to the opening concert by amarcord and a new presentation by Prof. Michael Fuchs, Head of Phoniatrics and Audiology at Leipzig University Hospital, who will be talking about the singing voice and its registers.
Further information
The 2016 a cappella Festival is taking place at a number of venues in Leipzig from 20 to 29 May 2016. Tickets, venues and more: http://www.a-cappella-festival.de/index.php/en/