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Knabenchor Hannover
Jörg Breiding – artistic director
Knabenchor Hannover © Michael Thomas
Since its foundation in 1950 by Professor Heinz Hennig, the Knabenchor Hannover has traditionally specialized in works by seventeenth century composers, focussing initially on the works of Heinrich Schütz. In 2002 Jörg Breiding assumed the conduction of the choir and continued the successful work of his predecessor. The Knabenchor Hannover, which until the end of 2001 was conducted by Heinz Hennig, was among the first choirs to take an interest in historical performance practices and in doing so achieved a quality of musicianship that has since won its acclaim in Germany and internationally.
Concerts at home and abroad, with renowned musical partners, guest performances in major concert halls and at major music festivals and award-winning CD recordings belong to the domain of the choir. Since its foundation the choir has undertaken more than 80 concert tours in over 45 countries including most of Europe, the Russian Federation, Israel, Japan, Cuba, Central and South America, the USA, South Africa and China.
Concerts at home and abroad, with renowned musical partners, guest performances in major concert halls and at major music festivals and award-winning CD recordings belong to the domain of the choir. Since its foundation the choir has undertaken more than 80 concert tours in over 45 countries including most of Europe, the Russian Federation, Israel, Japan, Cuba, Central and South America, the USA, South Africa and China.
Prizes and awards, such as the 1st prize at the German Choir Competition, demonstrate the artistic quality of the Knabenchor Hannover. The recording of "Geistliche Chormusik 1648" by Heinrich Schütz (1984) was awarded by the "Deutschen Schallplattenpreis" and the "Diapason d'Or".
For the world premiere recording of "Verleih uns Frieden" by Andreas Hammerschmidt the Knabenchor Hannover has received in the category "Choral Recording of the Year " the ECHO Klassik in 2006.
In summer 2010 the Knabenchor Hannover again was honoured with the Echo Klassik together with eight other Hanoverian choirs for the CD "Glaubenslieder" in the category “Choir and Ensemble Music of 20th/21st Century”.
For the world premiere recording of "Verleih uns Frieden" by Andreas Hammerschmidt the Knabenchor Hannover has received in the category "Choral Recording of the Year " the ECHO Klassik in 2006.
In summer 2010 the Knabenchor Hannover again was honoured with the Echo Klassik together with eight other Hanoverian choirs for the CD "Glaubenslieder" in the category “Choir and Ensemble Music of 20th/21st Century”.
MUSICAL PARTNERS
Regular musical collaboration combines the Knabenchor with vocal ensembles such as the Himlische Cantorey, Cantus Cölln and the Hilliard Ensemble. Again and again the Knabenchor Hannover is invited from orchestras for the performance of large symphonic works, for example from the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra for Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" and the NDR Symphony Orchestra Hamburg for the “3. Sinfonie” by Gustav Mahler. Major conductors such as Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christoph Eschenbach, John Eliot Gardiner, Michael Gielen, Philipp Herreweghe, Ton Koopman, Kent Nagano and Simone Young have worked together with the choir. With the NDR Radio Philharmonic in Hanover and the NDR Sinfonieorchester the choir combines a regular and intensive cooperation. Among the orchestras and ensembles, with which the choir has performed together, Concerto Palatino, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, London Baroque, the Baroque Orchestra L'Arco, Concerto Köln, Musica Alta Ripa, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Klazzbrothers and London Brass be found. Repeatedly the choir is invited to major music festivals such as the Leipzig Bach Festival, the International Handel Festival in Göttingen and Halle, the MDR Music Summer or the Niedersächsische Musiktage. Soloists of the choir act regularly in performances of the “Zauberflöte” at the Staatsoper Hannover.
Regular musical collaboration combines the Knabenchor with vocal ensembles such as the Himlische Cantorey, Cantus Cölln and the Hilliard Ensemble. Again and again the Knabenchor Hannover is invited from orchestras for the performance of large symphonic works, for example from the Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra for Benjamin Britten's "War Requiem" and the NDR Symphony Orchestra Hamburg for the “3. Sinfonie” by Gustav Mahler. Major conductors such as Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christoph Eschenbach, John Eliot Gardiner, Michael Gielen, Philipp Herreweghe, Ton Koopman, Kent Nagano and Simone Young have worked together with the choir. With the NDR Radio Philharmonic in Hanover and the NDR Sinfonieorchester the choir combines a regular and intensive cooperation. Among the orchestras and ensembles, with which the choir has performed together, Concerto Palatino, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, London Baroque, the Baroque Orchestra L'Arco, Concerto Köln, Musica Alta Ripa, the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra, the Munich Philharmonic, the Klazzbrothers and London Brass be found. Repeatedly the choir is invited to major music festivals such as the Leipzig Bach Festival, the International Handel Festival in Göttingen and Halle, the MDR Music Summer or the Niedersächsische Musiktage. Soloists of the choir act regularly in performances of the “Zauberflöte” at the Staatsoper Hannover.
MUSICAL TREASURES LIFT AND HOLD
For the choir founder and longtime director Heinz Hennig was the reawakening of musical treasures like Heinrich Schütz "Schwanengesang" and the complete recording of the “Geistliche Chormusik 1648” important. High recognition of his musical performance befell the Knabenchor by participating at the complete recording of the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, conducted by Gustav Leonhard and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Under the direction of Jörg Breiding the Knabenchor Hannover has performed unknown works. These include “Geistliche Vokalmusik” by Andreas Hammerschmidt, “Marienvesper” by Johann Rosenmüller as the reconstruction of Bachs “Markus-Passion”, which have all been released on CD. In addition there are compositions from the 20th century as the "Magnificat" by John Rutter and the Requiem “Schwarz vor Augen und es ward Licht" by Harald Weiss.
Recently, also the first live recording on DVD is by the CD label Rondeau Production in Leipzig www.rondeau.de available.
For the choir founder and longtime director Heinz Hennig was the reawakening of musical treasures like Heinrich Schütz "Schwanengesang" and the complete recording of the “Geistliche Chormusik 1648” important. High recognition of his musical performance befell the Knabenchor by participating at the complete recording of the cantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach, conducted by Gustav Leonhard and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Under the direction of Jörg Breiding the Knabenchor Hannover has performed unknown works. These include “Geistliche Vokalmusik” by Andreas Hammerschmidt, “Marienvesper” by Johann Rosenmüller as the reconstruction of Bachs “Markus-Passion”, which have all been released on CD. In addition there are compositions from the 20th century as the "Magnificat" by John Rutter and the Requiem “Schwarz vor Augen und es ward Licht" by Harald Weiss.
Recently, also the first live recording on DVD is by the CD label Rondeau Production in Leipzig www.rondeau.de available.
Knabenchor Hannover © Michael Thomas