For the 500th anniversary of the Reformation a collection of all 35 hymns by Luther is being released on a double CD for the first time. The Lutheran hymns in choral settings and chorale cantatas from the 16th century to the present day (including works by Praetorius, Scheidt, Bach, Mendelssohn, Jennefelt, and Schwemmer) are performed by the Kammerchor Stuttgart under the direction of Frieder Bernius and the Athesinus Consort Berlin conducted by Klaus-Martin Bresgott. The choral settings are complemented by chorale arrangements for organ. Extensive liner notes with meditations on selected hymns by Margot Käßmann, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Markus Meckel, Judith Zander, Uwe Kolbe, and others complete the recordings.

Artists

Arno Schneider (organ), Sophie Harmsen (mezzo-soprano), Michael Volle (bass), Matthias Ank (organ), Elke Rutz (alto), Jan Kobow (tenor), Holger Speck (tenor), Adolph Seidel (bass), Detlef Bratschke (organ), György Bognar (cello), Rheinhard Werner (cello)

Athesinus Consort Berlin, Kammerchor Stuttgart, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester, Klaus-Martin Bresgott, Frieder Bernius