Presentation
The vocal ensemble Camerata Aboensis was founded in Turku, Finland, in 1992 by four students with a common interest in early vocal music. The ensemble has appeared in several different shapes, but since 2001 mostly as a six voice mixed ensemble.
Lately, the ensemble has once again adopted a more flexible line-up, appearing with anything between two and eight singers, depending on the repertoire. The focus remains, however, firmly on early vocal music. Camerata Aboensis has made itself known interpreting renaissance polyphony, but has also made daring leaps between the centuries, combining music from mediaeval times and all the way to the 21st century.
With Turku as it's home, it has been a natural choice for Camerata Aboensis to work in close interaction with the Turku cathedral and its magnificent acoustics, but the ensemble has also appeared in very diverse environments, from cafes to castles and from concert halls to small country churches.
The artistic leader of Camerata Aboensis, tenor and musicologist Mats Lillhannus, has gained a thorough understanding of early music through many years of study which he combines with a wide ranging knowledge of repertoire in working with the ensemble. At the present, Lillhannus works as a freelance musician and writer.
Besides CA, Lillhannus has appeared in ensembles such as Retrover and The Finnish Radio Chamber Choir. He has appeared as a cantata and oratorio soloist with renowned ensembles such as the Sixth Floor Orchestra (Helsinki) and the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble (Stockholm).
During 2009-10, Lillhannus studied vocal ensemble singing at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, under the guidance of Anthony Rooley and Evelyn Tubb. He also continues his vocal studies with early music specialist Veikko Kiiver in Stockholm.