Role

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Ensemble

 

Wiener Chor, also known as the Vienna Choir, is a classical music ensemble based in Vienna, Austria. The choir was founded in 1947 by conductor and composer Hans Gillesberger, who served as its artistic director until 1989. Since then, the choir has been led by several renowned conductors, including Johannes Prinz, Erwin Ortner, and Marcus Creed. The choir's main members are professional singers from Austria and other European countries, who are selected through a rigorous audition process. The choir's repertoire includes a wide range of classical music, from Renaissance and Baroque to contemporary works. The choir is known for its exceptional vocal technique, precision, and expressive interpretation of music. One of the highlights of Wiener Chor's history was its performance at the opening ceremony of the Vienna State Opera in 1955. The choir performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, conducted by Karl Böhm, to great acclaim. The performance was broadcast live on Austrian radio and marked the beginning of the choir's international reputation. In the following years, Wiener Chor performed at major music festivals and concert halls around the world, including the Salzburg Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and Carnegie Hall in New York. The choir collaborated with many renowned conductors and orchestras, such as Leonard Bernstein, Herbert von Karajan, and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. One of the choir's most memorable performances was its rendition of Mozart's Requiem in D minor, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, at the Salzburg Festival in 1960. The performance was recorded and released on LP, becoming one of the best-selling classical recordings of all time. The choir's interpretation of the Requiem is still considered a benchmark for this work. Wiener Chor has also been recognized with numerous awards and honors throughout its history. In 1968, the choir was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for its recording of Bach's Mass in B minor, conducted by Karl Richter. In 1991, the choir received the Austrian Cross of Honor for Science and Art, First Class, in recognition of its contribution to Austrian culture. In recent years, Wiener Chor has continued to perform at major music festivals and concert halls around the world, as well as recording new works and collaborating with contemporary composers. The choir's commitment to excellence and innovation has ensured its place as one of the world's leading classical music ensembles.

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