MDR Rundfunkchor


MDR Rundfunkchor is the radio choir of the German broadcaster Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, based in Leipzig, Saxony. Dating back to 1924, the choir became the radio choir of a predecessor of the MDR in 1946, then called Kammerchor des Senders Leipzig, or Rundfunkchor Leipzig. The present name was established in 1992. The choir has appeared internationally, and has made award-winning recordings.

History

The origin of the later MDR Rundfunkchor was a choir called Leipziger Oratorienvereinigung, that appeared first on 14 December 1924 in a broadcast of the of Haydn's Die Schöpfung, conducted by Alfred Szendrei. A 1931 broadcast featured a Leipziger Solistenchor. The choir was renamed on 1 July 1934, as Kammerchor des Reichssenders Leipzig, when the broadcaster became Reichssender Leipzig.
After World War II, the choir was taken over by the new Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. Conducted by Heinrich Werlé, it was formed by 27 singers, women and men. He was succeeded by Herbert Kegel in 1949.
In January 1992, the broadcaster was reorganised, and the choir renamed MDR Rundfunkchor. Howard Arman was choral conductor from 1998. The choir toured to Qatar several times between 2008 and 2014, followed by concerts in France, Italy, Monaco and Switzerland. From the 2013/14 season, Philipp Ahmann has been first guest conductor. Risto Joost became artistic director in 2015.
The choir performed at international festivals such as Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Dresdner Musikfestspiele, Salzburg Festival, The Proms in London, and the Wiener Festwochen, among others. In 2019, the choir participated in the opening concert of the Rheingau Musik Festival at Eberbach Abbey, singing Dvořák's Stabat Mater with the hr-Sinfonieorchester, conducted by Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

Recordings

A recording of MDR Rundfunkchor of Carl Heinrich Graun's Der Tod Jesu, with the MDR Sinfonieorchester conducted by Howard Arman, was awarded the Echo Klassik 2005 in the category best recording of the 17th/18th centuries.
The choir recorded Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil twice, in 2000 conducted by Arman, and in 2016 conducted by Risto Joost. A reviewer noted: "Extremely well prepared MDR Rundfunkchor communicates an impeccable, focused sound and is unerringly responsive to the sacred text."

Awards