Role

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Ensemble

 

Chor des NWDR, also known as the Choir of the North German Broadcasting Corporation, was a renowned classical music ensemble that was active from 1945 to 1955. The choir was founded in Hamburg, Germany, by the North German Broadcasting Corporation (NWDR) shortly after the end of World War II. The NWDR was a public broadcasting corporation that was established in 1945 by the Allied Control Council in Germany. The corporation was responsible for providing radio and television services to the northern part of Germany, which included the states of Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bremen. The NWDR was keen on promoting classical music and opera, and it saw the establishment of a professional choir as a crucial step in achieving this goal. The Chor des NWDR was initially led by conductor Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, who was also the chief conductor of the NWDR Symphony Orchestra. Schmidt-Isserstedt was a highly respected conductor who had previously worked with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna State Opera. He was instrumental in shaping the sound and style of the choir, and he remained its conductor until 1955. Under Schmidt-Isserstedt's leadership, the Chor des NWDR quickly established itself as one of the finest choirs in Germany. The choir's repertoire was diverse, ranging from early music to contemporary works, and it performed regularly on radio and television. The choir also collaborated with some of the leading orchestras and conductors of the time, including Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan, and Bruno Walter. One of the highlights of the Chor des NWDR's early years was its performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion in 1948. The performance was broadcast live on radio and was widely praised for its musical excellence and emotional depth. The choir's performance of the work became a benchmark for future performances of the piece, and it helped to establish the choir's reputation as a leading interpreter of Bach's music. In 1950, the Chor des NWDR embarked on its first international tour, which took it to the United States and Canada. The tour was a great success, and the choir received rave reviews for its performances in New York, Boston, and Toronto. The tour helped to raise the choir's profile internationally and cemented its reputation as one of the finest choirs in Europe. Over the years, the Chor des NWDR received numerous awards and accolades for its performances. In 1951, the choir was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for its recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor. The recording was praised for its clarity, precision, and emotional depth, and it remains one of the most highly regarded recordings of the work. In 1953, the Chor des NWDR was invited to perform at the Salzburg Festival, one of the most prestigious classical music festivals in the world. The choir's performance of Mozart's Requiem was widely praised, and it helped to establish the choir's reputation as a leading interpreter of Mozart's music. Despite its many successes, the Chor des NWDR faced financial difficulties in the mid-1950s. The NWDR was facing budget cuts, and the choir was forced to disband in 1955. However, the legacy of the Chor des NWDR lives on, and its recordings and performances continue to inspire and delight classical music lovers around the world. In conclusion, the Chor des NWDR was a highly respected and influential classical music ensemble that played a crucial role in promoting classical music in post-war Germany.

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