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Capella St. Crucis Hannover (Choir) |
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Founded: 1977 - Hannover, Germany |
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The Capella St. Crucis Hannover consists of around 70 music students and experienced, qualified amateur singers. Each year, the choir performs both major oratorios and demanding a cappella works from the Renaissance to the modern era, including world premieres, in Hannover and throughout Northern Germany. Awards (ECHO Klassik 2010), first-place finishes in the Niedersächsischen Chorwettbewerb (2005, 2009, 2017), and a third-place finish at the 10th Deutschen Chorwettbewerb in 2018 attest to the choir's high level of performance.
In staged productions and collaborations with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, the choir seeks new artistic challenges and unusual concert formats. Guest performances have taken Capella St. Crucis throughout Europe, Argentina, and most recently to Australia.
Rehearsals take place on Mondays (except during the Lower Saxony school holidays) from 7:30 pm in the community hall of the Ev.-Luth. Paulusgemeinde at Meterstr. 37 in Hanover's Südstadt district. |
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Musical Directors |
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The Capella St. Crucis Hannover was founded in 1977 by Professor Ulrich Bremsteller for music students and qualified amateurs with choral experience.
In 2000, Manuel Doorman took over the musical direction of the Capella St. Crucis. The choir celebrated its 25th anniversary with him in a highly acclaimed anniversary concert. The centerpiece was the contemporary composition Il Cantico delle Creature by Otfried Büsing.
In November 2003, Professor Anne Kohler took over the musical direction of the Capella St. Crucis. The then professor at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold, she participated in various choir competitions with the Capella, among other things.
In 2011, the choir elected Professor Florian Lohmann as the successor to Anne Kohler. Florian Lohmann began his musical training in the Knabenchor Hannover and previously worked as a vocal coach for the Capella. In the winter semester of 2019-2020, he was appointed Professor of Choral Conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Frankfurt.
In December 2025, the members of Capella St. Crucis e.V. appointed Maria Ravvina as an additional choir director. Since January 2026, Florian Lohmann and Maria Ravvina have shared the artistic leadership of Capella. At the first rehearsal of 2026, the choir officially and warmly welcomed their new director. |
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Major Milestones in the History of Capella St. Crucis Hannover |
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September 20, 2014: The Capella St. Crucis Hannover together with the Mädchenchor Hannover and the Hannoverschen Hofkapelle, opened the Internationalen Kinder- und Jugendchorzentrums Christuskirche Hannover with a staged performance of Henry Purcell's semi-opera King Arthur.
October 2015: The Capella traveled to Argentina and performed in Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Rio Gallegos and the southernmost city in the world: Ushuaia.
September 2017: The Capella was awarded the distinction of "participated with very good success" as the best choir in its category athe Niedersächsischer Chorwettbewerb Bad Pyrmont.
December 31, 2017: Family concert and New Year's Eve concert in the Neustädter Kirche together with the Baroque orchestra La Festa Musicale, performing J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor BWV 232.
May 2018: The Capella received 3rd place in their category at Deutscher Chorwettbewerb in Freiburg with the distinction "participated with very good success".
May 27, 2018: Concert project at the Kuppelsaal Hannover conducted by Ingo Metzmacher, with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, the orchestra of the Orcherster der Musikhochschule and Hannoverschen Chören, performing and Berlioz' Requiem.
June 2018: Recording of a Christmas CD at St. Osdag Kirche in Mandelsloh.
March 3, 2019: Performance of the Widor's Mass for two choirs and two organs as part of the concert series for the inauguration of the English organ in the Nazarethkirche Hannover.
April 2019: Concert tour to Australia. The journey led from Adelaide via Melbourne to Sydney. A highlight was a concert at the Sydney Opera House featuring works by J.S. Bach and W.A. Mozart, as well as a world premiere by Australian composer Antony Pitts.
February 23, 2020: Family concert and concerts of George Frideric Handel's Israel in Egypt. The gallery in Herrenhausen served as the backdrop for the oratorio on the Biblical story, performed together with the Baroque orchestra La Festa Musicale.
April 2020: The Capella St. Crucis in lockdown. Members of the Capella St. Crucis individually recorded the final chorale “Ach Herr, lass dein lieb Engelein” from J.S. Bach's Johannes-Passion BWV 245BWV 245 at home for a virtual performance; the recordings were then mixed together and the resulting video was published on YouTube.
August 2023: The Capella has a new home. The choir moved from its previous rehearsal space in the Grundschule Meterstraße to the nearby Gemeindesaal der Pauluskirche, also on Meterstraße.
October 2024: Maria Ravvina has been a musical associate of Capella St. Crucis since October 2024.
February 21, 2026: The Capella opened the Schumann-Tchaikovsky Festival in Hannover together with the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover.
March 2026: Concert tour to Italy following in the footsteps of Steffani, Sartorio and Antonio Lotti. |
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Sources:
Capella St. Crucis Hannover Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (May 2026)
Photos 02-03, 05: © Laurin Rademacher; Photos 04, 06: © Nils Ole Peters
Bits & pieces from other sources
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (May 2026) |
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Ulrich Bremsteller : Short Biography | Ensembles: Capella St.Crucis Hannover
Bach Discography: Recordings of Vocal Works |
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Links to other Sites |
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Capella St. Crucis Hannover (Official Website) [German]
Capella S. Crucis on Facebook |
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