Ensemble Poesia Amorosa
Biography Ensemble Poesia Amorosa
poesia vocale
was founded in the fall of 2017 by singer and conductor Mona Spägele and is comprised of experienced and trained choristers and professional musicians from the Bern – Biel – Zurich region.
High musical standards are combined with a historically informed awareness of all styles, dedicated work on the desired a cappella sound culture, and the members' great independence and openness. With a flexible lineup, the choir primarily performs works from the Renaissance, the early Baroque, and the 20th/21st centuries in exciting program concepts. The programs are also characterized by collaborative partnerships and inspiring exchanges with renowned vocal and instrumental soloists. The name poesia vocale encapsulates the idea of exploring the diverse fusion of word and music achieved in singing.
In March 2019, poesia vocale made its public debut as the musical partner of the Zäziwil Choir. The ensemble performed an exquisite motet program for All Saints' Day in Bern and was a guest at the Biel City Church. Following concerts featuring English vocal music from five centuries, poesia vocale 2022 placed Heinrich Schütz at the center of its work on the occasion of the 350th anniversary of his death, honoring the most important German composer of the 17th century with several concerts that were enthusiastically received by the audience. NORDklang in June 2023 combined Scandinavian a cappella music from the 19th to 21st centuries from four countries in six languages to create a multifaceted Nordic soundscape. One of the first highlights of 2024 was the highly acclaimed performances of the large-scale Marian Vespers (1650) by Chiara Margarita Cozzolani, the important Milanese nun and Baroque composer. Poesia Vocale was able to engage the renowned soloist ensemble Voces Suaves for this performance.
Mona Spägele
lives as a singer and conductor in Bern. The versatile musician is the founder and director of the semi-professional, supra-regional ensemble poesia vocale, which primarily weaves a cappella works from the Renaissance to the present day into exciting programs. In addition to the Singkreis Zäziwil and the spiegelchor, she has been conducting the Chor Ipsach (Biel) since 2020, with which she primarily performs large oratorio works. In January 2025, she also took over the artistic direction of the Pro Arte Bern concert choir. She regularly collaborates with orchestras such as the Capriccio Barockorchester, OPUS Bern, and Grenzklang, as well as with renowned vocal soloists. As a mezzo-soprano, she sings with the Balthasar Neumann Choir (Thomas Hengelbrock) and the Basel Madrigalists (Raphael Immoos), among others. She also works as a vocal teacher, coach for vocal ensembles, and voice trainer, and annually directs the Gommer Musikferien summer choir week.
Her artistic work ranges from the early Renaissance and standard concert literature to experimental contemporary vocal music. She has performed at festivals throughout Europe, Colombia, and repeatedly in Asia, and has performed roles by Monteverdi, Pergolesi, Handel, and others on the operatic stage. Award-winning recordings with ensembles such as Weser-Renaissance Bremen, Orlando di Lasso Ensemble, Cantus Cölln, Musica Fiata Cologne, Kammerchor Stuttgart, and the Balthasar Neumann Choir showcase a wide range of works from Orlando di Lasso and composers of the early Italian Baroque, Heinrich Schütz, to György Ligeti. As a conductor, she builds on this versatility: rooted in early music and with a broad perspective, she cultivates an exceptionally broad repertoire from the 15th century to the present day, from a cappella works to symphonic oratorios. With surprising, diverse program concepts and deliberately placed contrasts, she succeeds in leading audiences to extraordinary listening experiences.
