CCMusic.com

The prophecies of Leonardo da Vinci - timeless and enigmatic. They are at the heart of the compositions by Andreas H. H. Suberg. After studying Leonardo's more than 150 prophecies intensively, Suberg used them to create a fascinating cycle. These musical scenarios are now for the first time released by WERGO in a top-class recording. Performers include powerful and dynamic countertenor Daniel Gloger, intensely expressive trumpeter Paul Hübner and brilliantly precise percussionist Olaf Tzschoppe. Suberg translated some of the prophecies into percussive instrument sounds, making the tonal suggestions of the texts the starting point of his compositions: I dadi (The dice) becomes an aleatory and performative exercise in the spirit of John Cage. De´ metalli (Of metals) and Delle campanelle (Of bells) play with the sounds of metal and bells while Delle pelle (Of skins) work with the sounds of skin. And finally, Leonardo's prophecies gave the composer cause for reflecting musically on currently virulent phenomena: Delle pelle II, the prophecy on the balls for playing, for example, is put by Suberg into the context of modern football playing. And de la bocca dell' omo ch'è sepoltura (Of the mouth of man) deals with the life-despising methods of meat production.