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The Leipziger Oratorienchor (Leipzig Oratorio Choir) was founded in September 1993 and in 2008 celebrated its 15th anniversary. Since its foundation, the choir is directed by Martin Krumbiegel. The primary concern of the choir is the performance of scared music of the 17th - 20th Centuries. In recent years the choir through regular performances of oratorios, choral-symphonic works and a-cappella music has become an integral part of Leipzig's musical life. For individual projects small ensembles are also organised from the around 80-member choir (e.g. Bach Festival 2001, 2002 and 2005 in Leipzig).
The Leipziger Oratorienchor co-operates in its performances not only with renowned soloists and the Leipzig orchestral musicians, but also students of the HMT "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy", who are given the opportunity, during their training, to test their skills. The choir maintains close links with the Kirche zum Heiligen Kreuz in Leipzig-Neustadt, in which a major part of the concerts takes place.
Even outside of Leipzig the Leipziger Oratorienchor joins concerts of oratorios and a-cappella works. So the choir has performed in 2001 at the Cathedral of Monaco during the "Festival de Musique Sacre" and in 2002 in St. Maximin with the Deutschen Requiem by Johannes Brahms, and appeared with a-cappella concerts at the Cathedral of Meissen and the Bachkirche in Arnstadt. In 2006 the choir gave other guest concerts in Saalfeld (Marienvesper by C. Monteverdi) and Polditz (Grabmusik and Requiem by W.A. Mozart). In 2007 the choir gave guest performance of Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn in Polditz. The performance of J.S. Bach's Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248), on December 26 at a church in the outskirts of Leipzig the choir has become a lovely tradition.
Concert highlights in 2007 in Leipzig were an a-cappella program of Passion Time, the performance of Elijah, a cantata concert featuring Bach cantatas and a much acclaimed performance of international Christmas music (Oratorio de Noel by Camille Saint-Saëns, A Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten). The Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248) by J.S. Bach (Parts 1, 5, 6) was performed in 2007 in Leipzig and Zwenkau.
For this year (2008-2009), performances of the Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) by J.S. Bach, an a-cappella concert of sacred music and the performance of the Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248) by J.S. Bach (Part 1-3) are planned. In July, the Leipziger Oratorienchor will sing motet with a Bach cantata at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig. The highlight of the concert year is the gala concert on 15-year anniversary of the choir with the performance of the Deutschen Requiems by J. Brahms on November 15.
The Leipziger Oratorienchor aims to reach in its concerts especially the young audience, and has a solid root audience. The concerts are attended by average of about 250 listeners, and on special "highlights" (J.S. Bach: Mass in B minor (BWV 232) and Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248), A. Dvorák: Requiem), more than 450 listeners. |
