Genre

:

Avant-Garde

 

 

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

WDR Rundfunkchor Köln is a classical music ensemble based in Cologne, Germany. The choir was founded in 1947 as the Westdeutscher Rundfunkchor (West German Radio Choir) and has since become one of the most renowned choirs in Europe. The ensemble's founding can be traced back to the aftermath of World War II, when the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (West German Radio) was established as a public broadcasting corporation in the newly formed Federal Republic of Germany. The radio station's management recognized the importance of music in rebuilding the country's cultural identity and decided to create a professional choir to perform on its programs. The first conductor of the choir was Wilhelm Schüchter, who led the ensemble until his untimely death in 1974. Under his leadership, the choir quickly gained a reputation for excellence and became a regular fixture on the German music scene. Schüchter was succeeded by his assistant, Helmuth Froschauer, who continued to build on the choir's success and expand its repertoire. Over the years, the WDR Rundfunkchor Köln has collaborated with many of the world's leading conductors and orchestras, including Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, and Simon Rattle. The choir has also performed at major music festivals such as the Salzburg Festival and the BBC Proms. One of the highlights of the choir's history was its performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at the opening ceremony of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. The performance, conducted by Karl Böhm, was broadcast to millions of viewers around the world and is still considered one of the greatest musical moments in Olympic history. In addition to its performances, the WDR Rundfunkchor Köln has also received numerous awards and accolades over the years. In 2007, the choir was awarded the Echo Klassik award for its recording of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem. The choir has also been recognized for its commitment to contemporary music, with commissions and premieres of works by composers such as Wolfgang Rihm and Sofia Gubaidulina. The current conductor of the WDR Rundfunkchor Köln is Nicolas Fink, who took over the position in 2014. Fink has continued to build on the choir's legacy of excellence and has expanded its repertoire to include more contemporary works and collaborations with other art forms such as dance and theater. Today, the WDR Rundfunkchor Köln remains one of the most respected and innovative choirs in Europe. Its commitment to excellence and its willingness to embrace new challenges and collaborations ensure that it will continue to be a major force in the world of classical music for years to come.

More....