It is shocking to see how often, since time began, political, religious, economic and social conflicts have led to war. With over 17 million casualties from 40 nations, the First World War must certainly count among the most horrific of all. This recording is dedicated to the memory of the dead and to the Armistice of Compiègne, which was signed a century ago, on 11 November 1918. The Regensburg-based Renner Ensemble, under the direction of Hans Pritschet, sings tragically beautiful works from five centuries by Janequin, Rheinberger, Silcher, Lennon and others. The Renner Ensemble’s performances are consistently highly acclaimed by critics, who have praised the choir for its “extraordinary homogeneity,” noting that “under the conductor’s skillful direction, the singers have developed an impeccable declamatory style and are in complete control of every dynamic nuance.” To date, the Renner Ensemble has toured Sweden, France, Italy, Austria, Spain, Latvia, Japan, Singapore, Uruguay, Argentina, and Great Britain. In addition to numerous concert performances and recordings, the Renner Ensemble has been successful at many national and international choral competitions.
