MDR Leipzig Radio Choir (biography in English)
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29. Februar 2024, 13:21 Uhr
The MDR Leipzig Radio Choir is the largest concert choir with one of the richest traditions within the German Broadcasting Corporation (ARD). It is also regarded world-wide as one of the most sought-after ensembles of its kind.
The MDR Leipzig Radio Choir is the largest concert choir with one of the richest traditions within the German Broadcasting Corporation (ARD) but it is also regarded world-wide as one of the most sought-after ensembles of its kind. Conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Kurt Masur, Colin Davis, Claudio Abbado, Simon Rattle, Neville Marriner, Seiji Ozawa, Lorin Maazel, Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Muti, or Daniel Barenboim have all paid tribute to the ensemble. The choir also regularly performs with the MDR Symphony Orchestra and its chief conductor Dennis Russell Davies. Further artistic partners of the 2023/2024 season include the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra under the batons of Andris Nelsons and Franz Welser-Möst, the Dresdner Philharmonic under Marek Janowski or Daniel Oren as well as the Frankfurt Radio Symphony under Alain Altinoglu and the Bavarian Symphony Orchestra under Sir Simon Rattle.
Not only an excellent partner for major orchestras, the ensemble regularly demonstrates its expertise with highly acclaimed a cappella performances. Secular and sacred music, wide-ranging ensemble singing and choral symphonic works complete a repertoire that encompasses practically a thousand years of musical history. Numerous world premieres attest to the 72 choir members' reputation as a specialised ensemble for contemporary music.
Since January 2020 Philipp Ahmann has held the post of artistic director of the MDR Leipzig Radio Choir, succeeding Risto Joost. He had formerly collaborated closely with the choir as guest conductor and has shaped the choir's profile through a cappella programmes and CD productions. His predecessors include Herbert Kegel, Gert Frischmuth and Howard Arman, who also created the highly successful format of the 'Nachtgesänge', late-night a cappella concerts held in Leipzig‘s Peterskirche.
Nearly 250 LPs and CDs – many of them award-winning – have been recorded by the ensemble to date. In 2017 the choir was awarded the International Classical Music Award for its recording of Max Reger's Motets op. 110, and in March 2018 the Diapason d‘Or for its recording of Rachmaninov‘s Vespers conducted by Risto Joost. Most recently a recording of motets by Anton Bruckner and Michael Haydn conducted by Philipp Ahmann was released by the Pentatone label in 2021. Whether via the European Broadcasting Union, through touring or in guest performances worldwide, the MDR Leipzig Radio Choir, which was awarded the European Cultural Prize in 2013, successfully acts as supreme musical ambassador for central Germany.
