Berliner Bach Akademie (Orchestra & Choir)

Orchestra founded: 1991 - Berlin, Germany
Choir founded: 1991 - Berlin, Germany

Orchestra

The orchestra of the Berliner Bach Akademie is made up of highly qualified musicians from the first orchestras and professors from the music academies in Berlin and Leipzig. Articulation and phrasing, rhythmic brilliance, creative joy and the musical playing have been repeatedly praised. The orchestra gave concerts at the Schleswig Holstein and Rheingau Musik Festival, at the Leipzig's Thomaskirche, on concert tours to Rome, Madrid, Barcelona and through various Spanish cities. In 2000 the orchestra made guest appearances with J.S. Bach's Die Kunst der Fuge (BWV 1080) and the Brandenburg Concerts in Spain; it was also invited to the Costa Rica Music Festival.

On the anniversary of J.S. Bach's death on July 28, 2001, the ensemble performed Die Kunst der Fuge (BWV 1080) at the Leipzig's Thomaskirche in the version for four quartets by Heribert Breuer, as well as at the Neue Bachgesellschaft: Bachfest 2002 in Greifswald. In November 2006, Die Kunst der Fuge (BWV 1080) was played at the Hamburg' Michel, in Naumburg and in the chamber music hall of the Berliner Philharmonie. The orchestra accompanied the choir of the Berliner Bach Akademie not only in the concerts in the chamber music hall of the Philharmonie, but also in its guest appearances in Barcelona and Madrid, there in March 2002 with J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) at the Auditorio Nacional. In December 2005 the orchestra was invited to the traditional Christmas concert of the Universidad Politecnica Madrid under the direction of Heribert Breuer. In December 2007 the orchestra toured Spain with a George Frideric Handell program (Apollo e Dafne, Acis und Galatea).

Choir

The choir of the Berliner Bach Akademie is a relatively young ensemble that was founded in 1991 at a time of political and cultural reorganization in Berlin. Initially conceived as a project choir, the Berliner Bach Akademie has developed into a continuously working choir, which is an offer for singers with particular vocal training and experience in choirs. Independent preparation is expected from around 40 members. Important characteristics of the choir are the relaxed but performance-related working atmosphere and the openness to new members.

The repertoire includes oratorios and a cappella works from Claudio Monteverdi to Henry Purcell, Antonio Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart and Felix Mendelssohn to Carl Orff. The repertoire focuses on the oratorios by J.S. Bach and the world premiere of the arrangements by Heribert Breuer, which he wrote "tailor-made" for his ensembles.

Co-operation with Spanish choirs began soon after the Berliner Bach Akademie was founded in 1991.
1994: with the Cor de Cambra Barcelona / J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244)
1996: Orfeó Català Barcelona / Felix Mendelssohn's Elias
2006: Cor de Cambra Lleida / J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244)
2007: Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid / Johannes Brahms' Requiem
2008: Cor de Cambra Lleida / Davidde penitente
2009: Coro de Camara de Tenerife / J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244)

Important singers such as Annette Dasch, Mojca Erdmann, Brigitte Geller, Simone Nold, Yeree Suh, Katharina Kammerloher, Gerhild Romberger, Annette Markert, Stephan Rügamer, Markus Schäfer, Martin Petzold, Kwangchul Youn, Christof Fischesser and Roman Trekel have stood out through their Involved in concerts for the work of the Berliner Bach Akademie.

The concerts of the Berliner Bach Akademie mostly take place in the chamber music hall of the Berliner Philharmonie.

Sources:
Berliner Bach Akademie Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (October 2020)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2020)

Heribert Breuer: Short Biography | Ensembles: Berliner Bach Akademie
Bach Discography: Recordings of Instrumental Works
Arrangements/Transcriptions: Works | Recordings

Links to other Sites

Berliner Back Akademie (Official Website) [German]