Quartonal
The male a cappella ensemble Quartonal was founded in 2006, and is one of the most promising vocal groups to emerge from Germany in recent years. In 2010, the four singers (Mirko Ludwig - tenor, Florian Sievers - tenor, Christoph Behm - baritone and Sönke Tams Freier - bass) from Hamburg gave a sensational debut performance at the German National Choir Competition, winning first place in the Vocal Ensemble category. Launched by their success at the competition, Quartonal immediately embarked on a busy schedule of national and international concerts. Quartonal’s debut album, “Another Way – English Vocal Music,” was released in 2013 in collaboration with Sony Music. Its release was met with critical acclaim and glowing reviews.

Following their success at the German National Choir Competition, Quartonal earned a number of plaudits at competitions around Europe. In 2012, Quartonal was awarded audience and jury awards at the “A cappella” contest in Leipzig (Germany) and the “Tolosako Abesbatza Lehiaketa” choir competition in Tolosa (Spain).

Quartonal performs music from across the male voice repertoire, singing classical works ranging from the Renaissance period to the 21st century, alongside folksongs and pop music. Quartonal is committed to working with contemporary composers such as Philip Lawson (a former member of the King’s Singers) and arrangers Patrick Prestel and Christoph Gerl. At the same time, they continue to perform traditional church music, an attachment which stems from their educations in northern German boys’ choirs. The seamless combination of classical and contemporary vocal music has become a trademark of their concerts.

For their first album “Another Way – English Vocal Music,” Quartonal recorded music by English composers of the 20th and 21st century. Simple folksong arrangements contrast with romantic-style pieces such as Alec Rowley’s sea cycle ‘Full Tide,’ which describes the rough life at sea and the squalor of the harbours. The recording also features works by the famous English composers Ralph Vaughan Williams (‘The Vagabond’) and Arthur Sullivan (‘The Long Day Closes’). Finally, three world premieres take the album into our century, with new commissions by British composers Philip Lawson, Graham Lack and Thomas Hewitt Jones, whose piece ‘Another Way’ gave the album its name.

This year expects to be a very exciting year for the group. Along with several concerts and multiple international festivals the ensemble will release their second album with Sony Music in the beginning of 2017.