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The vocal ensemble was founded in 1988 as the Junges Vocalensemble Ötigheim. In 1993 it changed its name to Vocalensemble Rastatt. Under the direction of its conductor Holger Speck, the vocal ensemble developed into a chamber choir that appeared in competitions by the German Music Council, the international chamber choir competitions Marktoberdorf and Tolosa.
Vocalensemble Rastatt & Les Favorites Barockorchester - these names stand for excellence, liveliness and authenticity in oratorio and choral music. The Grammy nomination for the production of W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro (Deutsche Grammophon) or its role as a cultural ambassador of Germany in the context of the G20 summit testify the outstanding reputation.
The ensembles and its charismatic artistic director and conductor Holger Speck now are among the best ensembles of their kind in the world. Compelling, faithful, and historically informed interpretations, laced with passion and emotion, characterise its performances. “His sound is akin to pure gold,” (American Record Guide), “Enchanting, captivating“ (Rondo), “perfect singing“ (FonoForum), “crystal clear, subtle“ (SR), “little wonder“ (MDR) are just a few reviews attributed to the young ensembles. Home of the ensemble is the baroque city of Rastatt in Baden-Württemberg with its magnificent Baroque residence, where music lovers from all over the country come to the concert series "Klingende Residenz" with exciting programs.
The Vocalensemble Rastatt & Les Favorites Barockorchester have performed at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, the Musikfest Bremen, Kölner Philharmonie, SWR RheinVokal Festival, Mozartfest in Würzburg, Festival "Europäische Kirchenmusik" in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Europäisches Musikfest Stuttgart, Schwetzinger Festspiele, Wartburgkonzerte and Merseburger Musiktage among other venues. The flexible choir does not shy away from excursions into the world of opera, having performed Lucia di Lammermoor and Norma with Edita Gruberová and with Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, Diana Damrau in the W.A. Mozart's operas Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, Entführung aus dem Serail and Le nozze di Figaro, working together with famous orchestras like Mahler Chamber Orchestra for the label Deutsche Grammophon. Together with Klaus Maria Brandauer and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the choir also performed Felix Mendelssohn's Sommernachtstraum at Musikfest Bremen.
The ensemble is sponsored by the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg in co-operation with its “Kunst 2020” program, as well as by its home city of Rastatt. |
