"VOCAL ARTISTRY AT ITS BEST!"

Vocal virtuoso premieres, best ofs, debuts - sixteen acoustic voyages of discovery to popular old venues (Haus der Musik, Metropol, Odeon, Ost Klub) and exciting new ones (Schauspielhaus, Semper Depot): in its 12th year Voicemania will be bringing lots of international swinging, grooving and rocking surprises to Vienna. More than half of the ensembles are performing here for the first time. The free opening concert is at 7 pm on 6 November 2009 at Haus der Musik.

Vocal experiments from northern Europe (The Real Group, Pust, Club For Five, Apes&Babes) will enthral listeners. Countertenors like Edison Cordeiro will compete with the popping, gurgling and droning of mouth percussionists. The event culminates in a day-long a cappella concert, a festival of vocal artistry. In a single evening, seven groups will offer the entire range of styles from classical to pop, spiritual to folk, traditional to unconventional. A total of forty-five soloists and groups from seventeen countries (Austria, Germany, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Slovenia, Russia, Israel, Argentina, Brazil, Madagascar, Zimbabwe) will turn our customary acoustic habits upside down using only their voices as a versatile and inexhaustible instrument.

High Five (Germany) "Jetzt und hier" & The SPIRITVOICES: 7 pm on 6 November 2009, Haus der Musik

Young, unconcerned and full of energy, with school behind them and a cheeky and winning grin on their faces, High Five sing about friendship, love, life and sorrow. In general and in particular. Or, as they say: "If your mood's in the cellar, try some a cappella". Smart, humorous and witty rhymes. With the confidence of a group that writes its own music, lyrics and arrangements. After all, when were you last serenaded by five good-looking young men?

High Five: Hannes Herrmann, Sebastian Hug, Jannis Kirchner, Lukas Luem, Ulrich Stoll

High Five will be supported by the Austrian musicians The SPIRITvoices.

Free admission

The Vocal Octet (Israel) & The Harmonixen (Austria): 8 pm, 7 November 2009, Haus der Musik

"Shalom Aleichem!" Best Jewish music. On 7 November 2009 the Israeli Vocal Octet will sing stories put to music about life in Israel, while the Harmonixen offer irresistible and fresh nonsense, piquant and bitter-sweet!

The Vocal Octet

Shalom Aleichem! Bei Mir Bist Du Shein ... With their classical, sacral and popular songs, the eight-voice ensemble has been offering a multifaceted a cappella sound experience for over twenty years. Regarded as one of the leading vocal formations in Israel, the group is making its first appearance in Vienna with stories put into music about life in Israel and the Diaspora, choral works by famous composers, Chassidic songs of praise, Yiddish American numbers, and modern arrangements of Biblical interpretations - all told a charismatic message from their homeland and people. And the audience are sure to be invited to join in on classic hymns like Hallelujah.

The Vocal Octet: Ronit Katz, Michal Senesh-Elkan, Yasmin Gamliel, Orly Mazor-Yuval, Erez Tal, Ron Gang, Raviv Leibzirer, Oz Weiss

THE HARMONIXEN: bitter-sweet vocals

"Tante Paula gönnt sich ja sonst nichts ..."

With their debut at Voicemania in 2008, the four charming women who make up the Harmonixen beguiled the audience with their voices and fresh and intriguing nonsense. With bitter-sweet vocals and the scent of roses they take their listeners back to the world of the Roaring Twenties. Tante Paula will be there with her wisdom and experience, advice and sympathy - and all of the clichés that go with life and relationships.

The Harmonixen: Claudia Meller, Eva Kumpfmüller, Astrid Krammer, Rita Höllhuemer

Tickets: EUR 25.00 available online at http://www.voicemania.at/.

High Five "Jetzt und hier" & The SPIRITvoices

7 pm, 6 November 2009
Free admission

The Vocal Octet & Die Harmonixen
8 pm, 7 November 2009

Tickets EUR 25.00