Balthasar-Neumann-Chor

A deep passion for music, the highest artistic quality and unbridled joy in singing: this is what the Balthasar Neumann Choir, founded in 1991 by Thomas Hengelbrock, stands for. The vocal ensemble repeatedly sets out — with great success — on musical treasure hunts, surprises with its energetic interpretations and creates magical moments for an international audience. The pure, warm Balthasar Neumann sound, a blend of the voices of excellent singers from all over Europe, moves and fascinates in equal measure, and makes the choir unique. This, combined with intensive rehearsals and in-depth explorations of musical works and their composers, has resulted in the choir’s extraordinary quality, which has led it to be hailed as ‘one of the best choirs in the world’ by Gramophone magazine. The ensemble’s fame is underscored by numerous awards, including multiple ECHO Klassik awards and a Gramophone Classical Music Award.

Under the direction of Thomas Hengelbrock, the singers participate in international residencies and perform in famous concert venues and at renowned festivals. The choir collaborates both with the Balthasar Neumann Orchestra and with other musical partners including the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Tonhalle Orchestra, Zurich, Camerata Salzburg, the Basel Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestre de chambre de Paris, and with conductors such as Pablo Heras-Casado, Ivor Bolton, Howard Arman and Pablo González.

In addition to historically informed performances of works such as Wagner’s Parsifal, Monteverdi’s Vespro della Beata Vergine, Beethoven’s Missa solemnis and the original version of Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, the choir increasingly focuses on contemporary music and works across genres and disciplines. From this season, the choral director Lionel Sow will collaborate with the Balthasar Neumann Choir and Thomas Hengelbrock, and will lead numerous projects with the ensemble.

The singers regularly pass on their knowledge of and passion for music to the next generations through masterclasses, workshops and education programmes. Within the framework of the Singers’ Academy they work intensively with young singers, and enrich the work of the Balthasar Neumann Academy through collaborative projects.