Ensemble Polyharmonique - Germany

The Berlin-based Ensemble Polyharmonique, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024, is one of the most active vocal ensembles in Germany, consistently presenting valuable rediscoveries of 17th and 18th century vocal music at a high artistic level. The basic cast consists of 6 vocal soloists a cappella or accompanied by the basso continuo and can vary depending on the programme (4-16 singers).

For the repertoire with instrumental accompaniment, such as the works by J.S. Bach, Dieterich Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu nostri, Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers or the Messiah by G.F. Händel, renowned baroque orchestras could be won as partners, among them the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, das Wrocław Baroque Orchestra, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra, Holland Baroque, Arte dei Suonatori, {oh!} Orkiestra from Katowice and the La Folia Barockorchester. 

There are already over a dozen internationally acclaimed CD recordings. Amongst others with collections of sacred vocal music by Johann David Heinichen, Wolfgang Carl Briegel, Andreas Hammerschmidt, Tobias Michael and Heinrich Schütz. 
The recording of the "Geistliche Chor-Music 1648" by Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) was awarded a Diapason d'Or in 2021.

Ensemble Polyharmonique celebrates sacred repertoire written by women. Men have not exclusively shaped European music history with their works; however, the barriers for female composers were incomparably higher. It is therefore important to bring musical treasures to light and explore biographies. Ensemble Polyharmonique presents luminous vesper psalms by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (1602-1678) and festive instrumental music by Isabella Leonarda (1620-1704).

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The Ensemble Polyharmonique is dedicated to the discovery of unknown works of early music and presents a programme on the occasion of International Women's Day 2024 that focuses on two Italian female composers of the 17th century, Chiara Margarita Cozzolani and Isabella Leonarda. The profoundly glowing sacred music of both women is in the tradition of the finest northern Italian compositional art, is full of variety and originality - and on a par with the works of their contemporaries Monteverdi or Cavalli.