Vox Luminis celebrates ist 20th anniversary this year with Bach’s festive Easter Oratorio from 1725 and Ja Dismas Zelenka’s Missa Paschalis from 1726. Since its foundation in 2004, the then 20-year-olds have developed into a world-class vocal ensemble, internationally acclaimed for their distinctive sound.

Vox Luminis, the »voice of light«, specialise in vocal music of the 16^th to 18^th century and performs famous masterpieces as well as musical rarities. Depending on the repertoire, the core line-up of solo vocalists is expanded and flanked by solo instruments or a full orchestra. The ensemble’s international breakthrough came with their recording of Heinrich Schütz’ »Musicalische Exequien«. Winning »Gramophone Recording of the Year« led to extensive tours throughout Europe, North America and Asia and residences in Wigmore Hall, the Aldeburgh Festival, Utrecht Early Music Festival and currently the Concertgebouw Bruges. More than a dozen highly successful albums followed, with their 2019 recording of Dieterich Buxtehude’s »Abendmusiken« with the Ensemble Masques and Olivier Fortin winning them their second Gramophone Award. The ensemble currently gives around 70 concerts a yearat the world’s top venues and festivals, including Bozar Brussels, deSingel Antwerp, Auditorio Nacional Madrid, L’Auditori Barcelona, Wigmore Hall London, Philharmonie Berlin, Heinrich Schütz Musikfest, Lincoln Center New York, Zaryadye Hall Moscow, Festival of Flanders and Festival de Wallonie, Festival de Saintes, Festival Oude Muziek Utrecht, Bachfest Leipzig, Aldeburgh Festival and Boston Early Music Festival.

The Northwest-Zeitung wrote about last year’s concert at the Musikfest Bremen in St. Mary’s Church in Friesoythe: »The rendition of this overwhelming sacred music with its stirring drama leaves nothing to be desired in terms of homogeneity and cohesion, down to the smallest subtleties, and continues to linger in the mind for a long time«.