MDR Rundfunkchor

MDR Rundfunkchor is the radio choir of the German broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR), based in Leipzig, Saxony. Dating back to 1924, the choir became the radio choir of a predecessor of the MDR in 1946, then called Kammerchor des Senders Leipzig, or Rundfunkchor Leipzig. The present name was established in 1992. The choir has appeared internationally, and has made award-winning recordings.

MDR Rundfunkchor
Choir
OriginLeipzig, Saxony, Germany
Founded1946 (1946)
FounderHeinrich Werlé
GenreProfessional mixed choir
Members73
Chief conductorRisto Joost
AwardsEcho Klassik
Websitewww.mdr.de/konzerte/rundfunkchor/

History

The origin of the later MDR Rundfunkchor was a choir called Leipziger Oratorienvereinigung (Leipzig oratorio association),[1] that appeared first on 14 December 1924 in a broadcast of the Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk AG (MIRAG) of Haydn's Die Schöpfung,[2] conducted by Alfred Szendrei. A 1931 broadcast featured a Leipziger Solistenchor (Leipzig soloists choir). The choir was renamed on 1 July 1934, as Kammerchor des Reichssenders Leipzig, when the broadcaster became Reichssender Leipzig.[3]

After World War II, the choir was taken over by the new Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. Conducted by Heinrich Werlé, it was formed by 27 singers, women and men.[1] He was succeeded by Herbert Kegel in 1949.[1]

In January 1992, the broadcaster was reorganised,[3] and the choir renamed MDR Rundfunkchor. Howard Arman was choral conductor from 1998.[4] The choir toured to Qatar several times between 2008 and 2014, followed by concerts in France, Italy, Monaco and Switzerland. From the 2013/14 season, Philipp Ahmann has been first guest conductor. Risto Joost became artistic director in 2015.[4] The choir performed at international festivals such as Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Dresdner Musikfestspiele, Salzburg Festival, The Proms in London, and the Wiener Festwochen, among others.[1] In 2019, the choir participated in the opening concert of the Rheingau Musik Festival at Eberbach Abbey, singing Dvořák's Stabat Mater with the hr-Sinfonieorchester, conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada.[5]

Recordings

A recording of MDR Rundfunkchor of Carl Heinrich Graun's Der Tod Jesu, with the MDR Sinfonieorchester conducted by Howard Arman, was awarded the Echo Klassik 2005 in the category best recording of the 17th/18th centuries.[6] The choir recorded Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil twice, in 2000 conducted by Arman, and in 2016 conducted by Risto Joost. A reviewer noted: "Extremely well prepared MDR Rundfunkchor communicates an impeccable, focused sound and is unerringly responsive to the sacred text."[7]

Awards

Literature
  • Alain Pâris: Klassische Musik im 20. Jahrhundert: Instrumentalisten, Sänger, Dirigenten, Orchester, Chöre, second revised edition, dtv, Munich, 1997, ISBN 3-423-32501-1, p. 919.

References
  1. "Geschichte" (in German). Freunde und Förderer des MDR Rundfunkchores Leipzig. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  2. "Sendungen mit der Leipziger Oratorienvereinigung". Freunde und Förderer des MDR Rundfunkchores Leipzig (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  3. "Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)" (in German). ARD. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  4. "MDR Rundfunkchor" (in German). Freunde und Förderer des MDR Rundfunkchores Leipzig. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  5. Schickhaus, Stefan. "Den Klangraum delikat überlisten". Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  6. "Echo Klassik 2005 - Die Sieger". beta.musikwoche.de/details/182142 (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  7. Cookson, Michael (May 2018). "Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943) / All-Night Vigil". musicweb-international.com (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  8. Gerhard Walther: Der Rundfunk in der Sowjetischen Besatzungszone Deutschlands. Bundesministerium für Gesamtdeutsche Fragen, Bonn/Berlin 1961, p. 80.
  9. Jörg Clemen, Steffen Lieberwirth: Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. Die Geschichte des Sinfonieorchesters. Klaus-Jürgen Kamprad publishing house, Altenburg 1999, ISBN 3-930550-09-1, p. 129.
  10. Musik und Gesellschaft 27 (1977), S. 701.
  11. "International Classical Music Award 2017 "Klassik-Oscar" für den MDR-Rundfunkchor" (in German). MDR. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  12. "Sendungen mit der Leipziger Oratorienvereinigung" (in German). MDR. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
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