Alois Mühlbacher’s early career as a soloist with the St. Florian Boys’ Choir is known to a larger number of people thanks to appearances on a wide variety of stages – from the Vienna State Opera to the Musikantenstadl. After his voice broke, which he was able to hide for a year thanks to the clever use of his head voice, he initially disappeared from these stages.
As a countertenor, he had to start from the bottom again, but the 26-year-old from Hinterstoder has meanwhile established himself internationally as a lied and oratorio singer. His vocal development can be traced through numerous CD releases, he approaches a younger audience via YouTube – for example with a tongue-in-cheek version of the Queen hit “Don’t Stop Me Now”. Mühlbacher underscores the fact that he will be unstoppable in the future with his new song CD “Urlicht”, in which his mentor of many years with the St. Florian Boys’ Choir, Franz Farnberger, accompanies him on the piano.
Clear and vital
With 21 songs by Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss, the countertenor reveals a quantum leap in terms of interpretation and voice. “Urlicht” is the singer’s final exam. His voice is clear and pure, vital and full of self-confidence. Mühlbacher never grinds tones. Rather, he gives each passage of this demanding literature the necessary value. A friendly relationship between the singer and the person being sung has obviously developed here. These 70 minutes between grace and melancholy, between joy and a spirit of optimism, never overstrain the listener’s ears (an effect that occurs again and again with countertenors). He welcomes with Mahler’s “Where the beautiful trumpets blow” and dismisses with the brilliant composer’s “At midnight”. Both songs are – as offered – highlights. Alois Mühlbacher’s “Urlicht” will fascinate the attentive listener and create catchy tunes for those who are only looking for a sprinkle.
CD: “Urlicht”, Alois Mühlbacher, countertenor, Franz Farnberger, piano; Ars production, 16.99 euros
OÖN rating:
“Hausmusikroas” on June 11th with Alois Mühlbacher and Spring String Quartet
Alois Mühlbacher will be a guest at the Salzkammergut Festwochen on June 11 in the “Hausmusikroas” initiated by star conductor Franz Welser-Möst.
The countertenor will be accompanied at 7.30 p.m. in the parish church of St. Nikolaus in Bad Ischl by the virtuoso string ensemble “Spring String Quartet”.
The strings and singers, known for their aggressive way of making music, offer a song recital with genre roles reversed. Mühlbacher will also delve into popular music, showing wild “Stringer” baroque approaches. A genre mix between folk and baroque music can be heard under the bracket “Counter & Strings”.
Tickets: Tel.: 07612/70630, by e-mail: karten@festwochen-gmunden.at or in the office of the Salzkammergut Festwochen in Gmunden. 10% discount with OÖNcard
Source: Nachrichten
