Debreceni Kodály Kórus (Choir)

Founded: 1955 - Hungary

Debreceni Kodály Kórus (The Debrecen Kodály Choir = DKKH) was founded in 1955 by György Gulyás and is one of Hungary's oldest and most highly regarded professional concert choirs. The choir is mainly sponsored by the city of Debrecen, the second largest in the country. The membership of the choir numbers between 40 and 50.

The repertoire of the choir is very rich, it ranges from the unaccompanied, a'cappella pieces through the European classical oratorios to the newest contemporary choral works. Since 1990 more than a hundred different oratorical works have been performed by the Debrecen Kodály Chorus. The list of first performances of Hungarian and other European compositions is impressively long. Above all, the choral works of Zoltan Kodály are in the centre of the repertoire. Their J.S. Bach repertoire includes: Mass in B minor (BWV 232), Weihnachts-Oratorium (BWV 248), Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244), Johannes Passion (BWV 245), Magnificat (BWV 243), Cantata BWV 4. This variety is clearly exhibited by the number of CD's the choir has made.

Since its foundation the Debrecen Kodály Chorus has given more than 2000 concerts in 40 countries of Europe, Asia, Africa and America. Some of the most successful tours and concerts outside Hungary: 1971 Wien - Festspielhaus, Helsinki - Finnlandia Hall; 1974 Washington - Kennedy Center; 1978 Wales - Country Hall; 1982 Athen - Herodes Atticus Odeon; 1987 Roma - Santa Maria Sopra Minerva; 1988 Berlin - Schauspielhaus; 1992 Amsterdam - Concertgebouw; 1996 Paris - Opera Comique; 1997 Jerusalem - Sherover Theatre.

Some of the most significant awards and prizes the Debrecen Kodály Chorus has earned: Csokonai Prize 1980; Artisjus Prize 1992; Béla Bartók and Ditta Pásztory Prize 1994 ; Pro Arte Hungarica 2003 ; Artisjus Prize 2004.

Source: Debreceni Kodály Kórus Website
Contributed by Teddy Kaufman (December 2006)

Salamon Kamp: Short Biography | Debreceni Kodály Kórus | Recordings of Vocal Works | Budapest Bach Weeks

Links to other Sites

Debreceni Kodály Kórus (Official Website) [Hungarian/English/German]