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Münchener Bach-Chor (The Munich Bach Choir) is one of the large choirs of the German speaking countries. With approximately 120 members it has for almost half a century gained unique renown through concerts, recordings and film amongst music lovers all over the world.
The main focus of its choral work is based on the great oratorios of J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, Felix Mendelssohn, Verdi, Johannes Brahms and Bruckner. But also the choral works of Italian, French and German masters, who one otherwise only seldom meets in the concert hall - Berlioz, Charpentier, Rossini, or (of the German composers) Heinrich Schütz, Lechner, Distler and Pepping for example - repeatedly form part of its programme. For many years it has regularly produced performances of ‘Motets in the Markuskirche’ of which the memorial concert on the anniversary of the death of its patron, J.S. Bach (28th July), always provides a high point in the musical year. At its larger concerts, the Munich Bach Choir is accompanied by its own Münchener Bach-Orchester which is made up of members of well-known Munich orchestras as well as with Professors of the College of Music (Musikhochschule).
Its critically acclaimed high standard of choral performance is due to the dedicated commitment of its founder Karl Richter (1954-1981) and of its current resident conductor Hanns-Martin Schneidt (1984-2005) whose assured style of interpretation has set multiple new standards. From September 2005 Hansjörg Albrecht is the musical director (and conductor) of the Münchener Bach-Chor.
The Münchener Bach-Chor is not however a professional choir but rather a lay choir which through the unbroken enthusiasm of its members is able to carry out its many and varied commitments. At its international performances, most recently in Milan and Turin, its precision, virtuosity, homogencity of sound and its interpretation of the word were repeatedly stressed. |
