Irene Kurka
Chants
This really is a special one. Solo voice carries so many connotations, of speech, of song, of chant, of prayer. It’s the most directly human, personal, unmediated instrument of all. It’s the way we speak to each other, comfort each other, entertain ourselves, reassure ourselves, talk to our gods. Kurka’s singing throughout is quite extraordinary: so refined, balanced, unadorned and controlled. Absolutely nothing is wasted or unnecessary.
Antoine Beuger Christopher Fox Eva-Maria Houben Th…
Hildegard von Bingen : John Cage
2012 release **
"Combining the deep voice of Hildegard von Bingen and the inner song of John Cage (or vice versa)—what a wonderful idea, isn't it? And it's Irene Kurka herself who seems to have come up with it. She performs Hildegard nine times and gives her version of Sonnekus² (in nine parts, which Satie's Je te veux inspired Cage to use). She blends, finally, the eighteen pieces already sung. She merges attachment to faith and detachment from all things, Latin and the elevation it encourages …
Beten. Prayer
This CD considers the topic of 'Prayer' and contains music by Antoine Beuger, James Weeks, Dante Boon, Sidney Corbett, Dante Boon, Nikolaus Brass, Eva-Maria Houben entirely performed by Irene Kurka studied voice at the Musikhochschule in Munich with Reri Grist, at the Meadows School of the Arts (SMU, Dallas) with Barbara Hill-Moore and at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada) with Nancy Hermiston. A versatile soprano, she has received numerous awards and scholarships, and …