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The Dresdner Kammerchor (Dresden Chamber Choir = DKC) is famous for a characteristic sound combining clarity with great intensity of tone. A lively and fresh approach, and a much-praised homogeneity and transparency of sound, are amongst the ensemble’s strong points, which is in great demand world-wide.
The DKC ranks among the top choirs of Germany. It was founded by Hans-Christoph Rademann and students of the college of music Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden in 1985. The choir undertook numerous concert tours and has become famous in and outside Europe. It was invited in order to appear at significant international music festivals as Rheingau Musik Festival, Oude-Muziek-Festival Utrecht, Settimane Bach Milano, Festivales Musicales Buenos Aires, Festtage Alter Musik Stuttgart and Händelfestspiele Halle.
The extensive repertoire of the mixed choir contains music from Renaissance to compositions of the 21st century, which is performed by 16 to 38 choristers depending on style. The interpretation of romantic music received great attention, and the choir won several awards for performances at international competitions. Several premieres and the granting of the supporting award of the Ernst-von-Siemens-Stiftung underline the ensemble’s achievements in the field of contemporary music. Compositions of Mauricio Kagel, Iannis Xenakis, Luigi Dallapiccola, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Ernst Krenek, Herman Berlinski have to be mentioned.
Apart from a cappella music the DKC maintains a close association with the orchestra Dresdner Barockorchester and the ensemble Alte Musik Dresden and gives new impetus to the cultivation of early music in Saxony. The main emphasis is put on the work at Dresden’s musical treasures. The first re-performance of Johann David Heinichen’s late Masses results from these efforts as well as the well-known interpretations of Heinrich Schütz’ works Schwanengesang and Musikalische Exequien.
In co-operation with the association Dresdner Hofmusik e.V. the DKC is involved in a series of concerts called Alte Musik im Dresdner Schloss. The participation in the Fest Alter Musik im Erzgebirge has contributed to the successful development of this young Saxon festival.
An extensive discography of broadcasts and CD-recordings and the permanent extension of the repertoire are the result of continuous work, they give evidence of the flexibility of the ensemble, which is increasingly invited to guest productions. Within this scope the DKC co-operated with Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum Leipzig conducted by Peter Schreier, with Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin conducted by Roland Kluttig, with La Stagione Frankfurt and Michael Schneider, with The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Simon Preston, with Concerto Köln conducted by René Jacobs and for the first time with Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and Hans-Christoph Rademann in 2002.
The CD-production of Heinrich Schütz’ Schwanengesang received the award Grand Prix du Disque of the Academie Charles Cros Paris. |
