Rafael Fingerlos, baritone
Sascha El Mouissi, piano
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the song Silent Night, the Salzburg baritone Rafael
Fingerlos, who grew up in the Silent Night community of Mariapfarr im Lungau, and his
piano partner Sascha El Mouissi, have approached the subjects of “silence” and “night” in a
completely new manner. The mostly secular, lovingly selected settings by a variety of romantic composers
forms a counterpoint to the customary repertoire of Christmas CDs. Well-known songs and
precious musical-literary rarities result in a particularly variegated, deeply essential sonic image and
a moving experience for listeners. In addition, an authentic recording concept containing the entire
spectrum of dynamics convincingly leads the listener into the concert hall. A total of 26 pieces of music
following a clear dramaturgical order, including a world premiere recording (Rudolf Polsterer’s late
romantic work Time Stands Still), form a predominantly secular calendar for the Advent season. As
time progresses, it also dedicates itself to sacred repertoire and, after Peter Cornelius’s chorale setting
The Kings, ultimately nds its ful lment with the world-famous Christmas song Silent Night. This
masterwork by Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber has been recorded here in its original version
for two male voices and guitar (tenor. Bernhard Berchtold, guitar: David Bader) with all six verses.