RIAS Kammerchor (Chamber Choir)

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RIAS-Kammerchor (Chamber Choir)
Founded: 1948 - Berlin, Germany
As soon as he was founded in 1948, the RIAS-Kammerchor played a decisive part in the revival of the musical life of Berlin. Before becoming a partner of the Berlin Radio Symphony and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, the choir participated along with the RIAS-Kammerorchester and well-known soloists not only in Karl Ristenpart’s J.S. Bach Cycle (68 cantatas, the Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) and the Saint-John Passion (BWV 245) were recorded between 1947 and 1952) but in works of 28 other composers under this same conductor. Conductors like Ferenc Frisay, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan and Lorin Maazel were closely associated with the Choir, and in more recent years special mention may be made of its collaboration with Claudio Abbado, James Levine and Daniel Barenboïm. However, the RIAS-Kammerchor developed its specific artistic profile out of its own independent existence as a chamber ensemble and established an international reputation as one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles, owing the lustre of its name especially to its performances of the a cappella repertory. In this respect the Choir occupies an unrivalled position among German professional choirs. Under its principal conductor, Marcus Creed, the Choir has gone from strength to strength. At the same time, the Choir has broadened its repertory to include performances of early music, with Nikolaus Harnoncourt, John Eliot Gardiner, Frans Brüggen, Roger Norrington and René Jacobs. In 2003 Daniel Reuss was appointed chief conductor of the RIAS-Kammerchor.

Sources: - Harmonia Mundi Website - Renowned critic Hans-Heinz Stückenschmidt wrote in “40 Years RIAS Chamber Choir 1948-1988” (publ. by RIAS, 1988) that it was “Karl Ristenpart’s choral work as early as 1946 for the Berlin DIAS (=Telephone wire broadcasting in the American Sector) which created the conditions allowing for the foundation of the RIAS-Kammerchor.” - „A Musician to the Core: Remembering Karl Ristenpart,“ a broadcast by Dr. Charles W. Scheel, aired on Dec. 23rd 2006 in the “KONZERT” series on Deutschlandradio Kultur Berlin. Contributed by Aryeh Oron (June 2001, August 2007); Charles Scheel (February 2007)
René Jacobs: Short Biography \| RIAS-Kammerchor \| Academie für Alte Musik Berlin \| Recordings \| General Discussions Individual Recordings: BWV 232 - Jacobs \| BWV 248 - Jacobs
Rainer Kussmaul: Short Biography \| RIAS-Kammerchor \| Berliner Barock Solisten \| Recordings \| Thomas Quasthoff: Bach Cantatas
Lorin Maazel: Short Biography \| RIAS-Kammerchor \| Berlin Radio-Symphonie Orchester \| Recordings
Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works
Conductor	As	Works
Marcus Creed	Choir	BWV 244
Hartmut Haenchen	Choir	BWV 169
Herbert von Karajan	Choir	BWV 243 [DVD]
Fritz Lehmann	Choir	BWV 248
Simon Rattle	Choir	BWV 245 [DVD]
Karl Ristenpart	Choir	BWV 245, BWV 248 [Tape]
Peter Schreier	Choir	BWV 233-236, BWV 243
Links to other Sites
RIAS-Kammerchor (Harmonia Mundi)			Willkommen beim RIAS-Kammerchor [German]

Short Biographies: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Explanation | Acronyms

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Last update: ýMay 11, 2008 ý11:12:42