Rundfunkchor Berlin
With about 60 concerts per season and various international guest performances, including a residency at the White Light Festival at Lincoln Center in October 2016 and its first South America tour, Rundfunkchor Berlin (Berlin Radio Choir) is one of the world’s outstanding choral ensembles. Three Grammy Awards alone mark its success. The exceptional breadth of its repertoire, its unmistakably warm, richly nuanced sound, absolute precision and delight in experimentation all contribute to making it one of the chosen partners of various international orchestras and conductors, including Simon Rattle, Christian Thielemann and Yannick Nézet-Séguin. It is the permanent partner of the Berlin Philharmonic, as well as the German Symphony Orchestra and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Berlin.
Berlin Radio Choir’s experimental project series has attracted worldwide attention. In collaboration with artists from diverse disciplines the Choir breaks down the classical concert format and adopts new modes of choral music for a new audience. Some prime examples include human requiem, an interactive scenic version of Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem staged by Jochen Sandig, Sasha Waltz and guests, which toured to New York, Hong Kong, Paris, Brussels and Athens and was chosen by The New York Times as one of the best classical music performances of 2016. In October 2017 LUTHER dancing with the gods by Robert Wilson, featuring music by Bach, Nystedt and Reich, will have its premiere at the new Pierre Boulez Hall in Berlin.
With its annual activities for various groups, including a large sing-along concert at the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Festival of Choral Cultures for international choirs and the Song Exchange for children and young people, Berlin Radio Choir invites people of all ages and walks of life to become immersed in the world of professional choral music. Its long-term education programme, SING!, encourages singing in Berlin’s elementary schools. With its Academy and Schola for young professional singers, as well as the Berlin International Masterclass for highly qualified young choral conductors, it supports the next generation.
Founded in 1925, the Choir celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2015. Since its foundation, the ensemble has been shaped by conductors such as Helmut Koch, Dietrich Knothe, Robin Gritton and Simon Halsey. Gijs Leenaars took up the post of principal conductor and artistic director of Berlin Radio Choir at the start of the 2015/16 season. Simon Halsey was appointed conductor laureate and will retain his ties with the ensemble as a regular guest conductor. Berlin Radio Choir is an ensemble of Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH Berlin, controlled by Deutschlandradio, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Berlin and Radio Berlin-Brandenburg.
Current as of August 2017