Retrospective

Vocalforum Graz inspires with “Miserere“

October 17 + 18, 2021, Knittelfeld and Graz
Let me hear desire and joy – So says the well-known 51st Psalm “Miserere mei, Deus”, which is about guilt and forgiveness. The Vocalforum Graz, together with the saxophonist Patrick Dunst, placed this text at the center of two concerts.
On two evenings, the Vocalforum Graz under the direction of Franz M. Herzog offered its audience an atmospheric concert around the theme of the famous penitential psalm. In the program of “Miserere” the audience encountered the famous psalm in several settings and variants that could not be more different. The musical arc spanned from the Renaissance to the present with works by Gregorio Allegri, Johannes Brahms and Ola Gjeilo. The multi-layered moods between despair and hope of the underlying text were enhanced in a special way by the soulful saxophone sounds of Patrick Dunst.
The two concerts of “Miserere” took place in the Stadtpfarrkirche Knittelfeld (17.10.) and in the Schlosskirche St. Martin (18.10.) and delighted the audience.
Schlosskonzerte St. Martin
The concert in the Schloßkirche of St. Martin also marked the beginning of the “Schlosskonzerte” of the Bildungshaus St. Martin in Graz. Franz M. Herzog, director of the Vocalforum Graz, created a varied program for the four-part concert series. The opening with “Miserere” will be followed on January 10, 2022 by “Baroque Treasures” with the early music specialist Tanja Vogrin, and on June 13 the a cappella quartet “4ME” and the program “Mann o Mann” will take the audience on a swinging journey into summer. In between, on May 9, 2022, the Vocalforum Graz will do the honors again with its new program “Let him kiss me”. True choral fans can look forward to an extraordinary choral concert centered on the “Song of Solomon” – a biblical material full of passion and eroticism. Aron Saltiel (Jewish chants) and Christian Bakanic (accordion) will also be performing. More about the St. Martin Schlosskonzerte: www.schlossstmartin.at

100 years Franz Koringer
Schlosskonzert St. Martin

June 28, 2021
Artistic direction: Franz M. Herzog

We are back – and how! The St. Martin Castle Concert on June 28, 2021 was an exceptional one. Not only because of the diverse program and the wonderful ambience. There was a special energy in the air that evening, as it was the first concert since the pandemic forced all art to come to a halt. It was an atmospheric and remarkable concert, carried by an exuberant joy of all participants to finally be able to make music in front of an audience again. And the audience thanked them with a tirelessly exuberant applause at the end.
What could be heard was a selection from the great diversity of the Styrian composer Franz Koringer, who would have celebrated his 100th birthday this year. The Vocalforum Graz, the Herzogenberg Chamber Choir, the Studio Choir and the Gospel & Jazz Choir of the Johann-Joseph-Fux-Conservatory, as well as the Singkreis Raaba, together with instrumentalists of the Conservatory, brought a varied program to the stage. Highlights of the vocal forum were demanding sacred and secular works by Koringer, from the Kreuzweg with orchestra to vocal gourmet pieces such as Der Lattenzaun from 6 neue Madrigale.
In addition to the artistic director Franz Herzog, students of the ao. course of studies in choral conducting and group voice training of the Johann-Joseph-Fux-Conservatory conducted.

Silent night

December 2020
Dedicated to all those who cannot spend Christmas with their loved ones.

Artistic Director: Franz M. Herzog

Audio Engineer | Mixing Engineer
Raphael Kapeller

Director | Producer
Stephan Herzog

Gaffer | AC
Timo Neubauer

Colorist
Emanuel Droneberger

This video was produced in December 2020 in compliance with all necessary requirements. All contributors were tested for SARS Cov-2 on the day of filming.

A production of Herzog Media.

Hear my prayer | 3 Motets

April 2020
Composer: Franz M. Herzog

These three motets for two choir groups, each singing in unison, span an atmospheric arc from the pain-filled lament and the pleading for an answer to the moving, comforting response of God to the almost jubilant praise in thanks for his supportive attention. In these three motets – performed in immediate succession as a cycle (attacca) or separately – Franz M. Herzog poignantly traces the path from suffering to consolation and hope. Written on the occasion of the Covid 19 pandemic, but ultimately transcending this occasion and timelessly performable in many circumstances, the imploring plea of people for God’s help is followed by (Hear My Prayer, oh Lord) A moving, hopeful movement in the form of a divine response (Be Not Afraid). The finale is the joyfully jubilant hymn Praise the Lord. The composer thus created a work that is intended to be an outlet for performers as well as the audience in difficult times. For the initial deep sorrow is followed by its overcoming, and ultimately confidence dominates.
Artistic Director: Franz M. Herzog

Mix and Master: Konstantin Drewes
Editing and production: Stephan Herzog
A production by Herzog Media.

In Paradisum

Ein mystischer Konzertabend
Himmlische Musik für den Übergang vom Leben zum Tod

Viola: Delphine Krenn-Viard
Violoncello: Johannes Herzog
Sopran: Jerilyn Chou
Bariton: Josef Schuster

Vocalforum Graz

Künstlerische Leitung: Franz M. Herzog

Videoproduktion: Herzog Media

Gestatten: Herr und Frau von Herzogenberg

Szenisches Konzert über eine (musikalische) Dreicksbeziehung

Die unglaubliche Lebensgeschichte von Elisabeth und Heinrich von Herzogenberg im Dreieck mit Johannes Brahms als „inszeniertes Konzert“ bestehend aus Lesung, Schauspiel und solistischen Beiträgen.

Sprecher*innen: Ninja Reichert | Christian Ruck | Peter Uray
Sopran: Nasrin Rossmann
Tenor: Roman Pichler
Alt: Dorothea Stolberg
Bass: Csaba Szönke
Klavier: Polina Sasko | Christian Dolcet

Vocalforum Graz

Künstlerische Leitung: Franz M. Herzog

Regie: Steven Anthony Whiting

Videoproduktion: Emanuel Droneberger

NEW CARMINA

Für das Projekt “New Carmina” wurden 12 Texte der Carmina Burana vom deutschen Dramaturgen Thomas Höft ausgewählt und von österreichischen und internationalen Komponierenden vertont.
Komponist*innen: Vytautas Miškinis, Thomas Daniel Schlee, Anselm Schaufler, javier Busto, Franz M. Herzog, Denovaire, Tadeja Vulc, Ugis Praulins, Johanna Doderer, Mia Makaroff, Giovanni Bonato, Iván Eröd.

Vocalforum Graz

Künstlerische Leitung: Franz M. Herzog

Videoproduktion: Herzog Media