Nordic programme at Chorbiennale Aachen
The singers of the WDR Radio Choir captivated the audience with a selection of different songs of Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish composers. Homogeneous in all vocal ranges, perfect in intonation, phrasing and articulation: The choir showed its best side especially with songs by Finn Toivo Kuula and the Swedish
composers Hakan Parkman and David Wikander. Enthusiastic applause for a brilliant festival opener.
Aachener Zeitung, Pedro Obiera, 02.06.2015
Successful debut with the WDR radio choir
Right from the start in his debut concert, Stefan Parkman as chief conductor of the WDR radio choir succeeded to set individual accents. He is able to regulate a differentiated and detailed sound shaping and to communicate his own obvious enthusiasm for the matter.
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, 15.09.2014
The intonation of the choir remained untarnished even in the most delicate dissonances in Einojuhani Rautavaara's "Suite de Lorca" and Jan Sandström's "In Flanders Fields". Ovation for a great concert concept.
Münstersche Zeitung, 16.09.2014
Edlund, Mäntyjärvi, Mendelssohn and Rautavaara with the WDR Radio Choir
The audience could convince itself of the highest quality of the choir when the Rundfunkchor Köln literally lighted lights of heaven - "Himmelslichter". Psalms by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy were contrasted to Jaakko Mäntyjärvi's settings of the same texts, a "Gloria" by Lars Edlund and the first of "Duineser Elegien" by Rilke set to music by Einojuhani Rautavaara. Under Stefan Parkman's exceptionally suggestive direction the choir reacts in a most sensitive way and creates a sound with addictive potential, dragging the listener into a spiritual world of sounds.
Neue Ruhr Zeitung, Roland Dymke, 29.10.2012
"Serenade with Jazz" with WDR Rundfunkchor and Big Band
The choir demonstrated that music without Big Band can be very alive. Hallelujah by Robert Sund hazarded a “Spiritual mortale”: the voices snapped in and out and the singers moved strenuously in twisted rhythms (…) Nils Lindberg has written several “night works” for A cappella being first performed, atmospherically dense and modern composed and committedly conducted by Stefan Parkman.
Kölnische Rundschau, Olaf Weiden, 20.06.2016
"Messiah" in Mozart version with WDR Radio Choir
Stefan Parkman focussed on the subtle and piano tones, virtuoso but loose lightness and elegance. The few dynamic peaks in the Halleluja and Amen, which Parkman took spectacularly slow in comparison to his otherwise rather speedy tempo turned out instead even more emphasised.
The WDR Choir and WDR Radio Symphony provided a flawless performance in terms of agility, beauty of tone and intonation .
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Markus Schwering, 15.12.2015
Sandström, Britten, Mäntyjärvi, J.S. Bach and Nystedt with the NDR Radio Choir
Insistingly the chamber choir of the NDR repeats the "Veni" calls like an invocation in minimal music style. An unusual and gripping listening experience from the first to the last bar celebrated by the choir under his Swedish chorus master Stefan Parkman.
Nürnberger Zeitung, Peter Löw, 08.08.2013
Gripping performance with the NDR choir
Chorus master Stefan Parkman with the excellent NDR choir made a gripping performance. The singers condense “Hear my prayer” to a highly expressive invocation. … Stefan Parkman forms a mature, dark vocal sound. The singers are flexible enough though to lighten up the music score with bright colours. Benjamin Britten's Hymn to St. Cecilia lives on that colour and on the imploring intensity of Stefan Parkman's interpretation.
Fränkische Landeszeitung, Thomas Wirth, 08.08.2013
Rodion Shchedrin: The sealed Angel – Rundfunkchor Berlin
The Rundfunkchor Berlin radiates even brighter in Rodion Shchedrin's orthodox liturgy "The sealed Angel" under Stefan Parkman. One cannot praise enough the results of the choir's work on musical substance, melodiousness and vocal power.
Tagesspiegel, 07.2012
3 Psalms:
Felix Mendelssohn, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi
Academic Chamber Choir of Uppsala
Footprint Records (2012)
Ernst Pepping: The Passion according to Saint Matthew
Rundfunkchor Berlin
Coviello Classics (2008)
Echo Klassik
Hanne Ørvad: Corona
Danish National Choir
Danish National Girls' Choir
Dacapo (2008)