Swabian Singing Circle
| Swabian Singing Circle | |
|---|---|
| Seat: | Stuttgart / Germany |
| Founding: | 1931 |
| Genus: | Chamber choir |
| Founder: | Hans Grischkat |
| Head : | Gereon Müller |
| Voices : | 40 - 50 (SSAATTBB) |
Schwäbischer Singkreis , later also called Schwäbischer Singkreis Stuttgart , is a mixed vocal choir founded by church music director Hans Grischkat in 1931. He has been singing as the Stuttgart concert choir under the name RONDO vocale since 2002 .
Emergence
Hans Grischkat founded this Württemberg selection choir because he was looking for a sound body so that he could perform all major works of choral and oratorio literature. He soon succeeded in realizing this goal step by step with the choir. Permanent venues were the Christ Church in Reutlingen and the Collegiate Church in Stuttgart.
Grischkat was also able to work on sophisticated contemporary a cappella literature with the choir. Another goal was to record the work of Johann Sebastian Bach on records. In concerts, among other things was Vespers of Claudio Monteverdi with - period instruments - listening to what was an innovative idea before the Second World War. The coveted Grand Prix du Disque was awarded to the German choir and its director. The Swabian Singing Circle under Grischkat played a key role in shaping the 35th German Bach Festival of the New Bach Society from June 26 to July 1, 1958 in Stuttgart.
After Hans Grischkat's death, the choir was reorganized under Volker Lutz, initially mainly from members of the various Grischkat ensembles, and soon reached a choir of around 60 singers. Johann Sebastian Bach remained a focus of the repertoire - all of his oratorio works were performed several times, as well as works for choir and orchestra of the Bach sons, from Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Bruckner and Kodály to Stravinsky (mass, psalm symphony). In the course of time, all Bach motets were also a cappella in the repertoire, as well as works from the Renaissance to Frank Martin (Mass), Johann Nepomuk David and Hessenberg. The choir sang in church services and concerts mainly in the region around Stuttgart, but there were also trips within Germany and outside, e.g. B. Belgium ("Europa Cantat" Namur), Poland (Zielona Góra = Grünberg) and Provence.
After 20 years, Volker Lutz had to relinquish management for health reasons. He was followed in a two-year "Interregnum" by Johanna Irmscher. a. Frank Martin's mass and works from Bach to Janáček are performed again.
In 1999 Frank Oidtmann took over the choir, the programs now also focus on Herzogenberg and contemporaries such as John Rutter .
present
In 2002 the choir was renamed RONDO vocale and performs regularly, mainly in southern Germany, but also in Europe. The choir is located at the Evangelical St. Mark's Church in Stuttgart. The repertoire focus today lies with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina , Arvo Pärt , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy , Johannes Brahms , Anton Bruckner , Alessandro Scarlatti and Franz Schubert . The artistic director has been Gereon Müller since 2006.
Conductors
- Hans Grischkat, 1931–1977
- Volker Lutz , 1977-1996
- Johanna Irmscher , 1997–1998
- Frank Oidtmann, 1998 to 2006
- Gereon Müller, 2006 to date
Recordings
- Johann Sebastian Bach - Christmas Oratorio BWV 248 (complete recording) with Maria Friesenhausen - soprano, Hildegard Laurich - alto, Peter Wetzler - tenor and Bruce Abel - bass. Choir: Schwäbischer Singkreis and the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim, conductor: Hans Grischkat, Sun Five (SF 40 803)
- Johann Sebastian Bach, Mass in B minor with the Swabian Singing Circle, the orchestra of the 35th German Bach Festival, conductor: Hans Grischkat (Vox Box VBX 7, 1960, 3 LPs)