Die Singphoniker

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Die Singphoniker are a German male classical vocal ensemble based in Munich. They were founded in 1980 by six students from the Munich University of Music and Theater, inspired by the Comedian Harmonists. The group performs a wide range of music, from Gregorian chant to contemporary works, including Volkslieder, Christmas carols, and crossover pieces.

Their name alludes to a traditional symphony orchestra term by inserting “sing” into “Symphoniker.”

Performances
- In 1995 they appeared at the Rheingau Musik Festival at Eberbach Abbey, singing Gregorian chant with a spoken text by Gert Westphal.
- In 1999 they made their New York debut at the Frick Collection, performing works by Schumann, Schubert and Mendelssohn, the Berliner Requiem by Kurt Weill, and songs by the Comedian Harmonists.

Recordings
- They recorded Edvard Grieg’s part-songs for male voices (2002); a review praised their unity and vocal blend.
- They completed Franz Schubert’s 95 part-songs for male voices on a recording noted for the group’s long togetherness and rich, blended sound.
- They also released Singphonic Christmas, a collection of European Christmas carols with harp music, featuring arrangements by Nélida Béjar and Max Beckschäfer.
- In 2013 they recorded secular songs by Josef Rheinberger, including several first recordings.
- Most albums were released by the Classic Produktion Osnabrück (cpo) label, with some issued by Oehms Classics.

Music composed for Die Singphoniker
- Enjott Schneider composed Variationen über die Liebe for the ensemble, premiered in 1984.
- Wilfried Hiller’s church opera Augustinus was premiered by the group in 2005.
- Max Beckschäfer wrote Frammenti e Stanze di Michelangelo (1992) for six voices, Shakespeare Songs (2000) for four male voices and piano, Fleur de quinze ans (2007) a madrigal, and arrangements of four European Christmas carols.

Singers
- The ensemble typically performs as a sextet. Current members are:
- Johannes Euler, counter-tenor
- Daniel Schreiber, tenor
- Henning Jensen, tenor
- Berno Scharpf, baritone (and piano)
- Michael Mantaj, bass-baritone
- Christian Schmidt, bass
- Former members include Markus Geitner, Alfons Brandl, Christoph Rösel, Bernhard Hofmann, Hubert Nettinger, Manuel Warwitz, Ludwig Thomas, Gunnar Mühling, and Franz-Xaver Lechner.

Prizes and awards
- 1987: Platte des Monats (Record of the Month) in Stereoplay for Concert Collection
- 1991: First prize at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing (vocal ensembles), in Gorizia
- 1994: Diapason d’Or for the CD Singphonic Mendelssohn
- 1997: Grand Prix du Disque “Charles Cros” from Radio France for the complete vocal music of Franz Schubert
- 1998: Preis der Bayerischen Volksstiftung

Website
- www.singphoniker.de

Die Singphoniker are known for their cohesive sound and versatility, tackling ancient chants as well as modern works, and for commissioning new music written especially for their six voices.