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The chamber choir Carmina Mundi, which includes about 40 singers, is directed by its engaged choir director Harald Nickoll, who created it in 1983. The choir concerns itself mainly with a-cappella-music, in order to be able to concentrate on the work on a balanced sound-picture in pure tendency. The repertoire covers sacred and secular choir music of different countries, cultures and epochs. An emphasis of the today's work is the development of contemporary choir music. In the course of the years the choir excited increasingly supraregional attention.
Apart from a regular concert activity and an advanced voice training of the choir members, the following choir activities should be mentioned. In 1989 Carmina Mundi reached the 2nd place in the category "mixed amateur choirs" with the choir competition of the Landesmusikrates Nordrhein-Westfalen. In 1990 the choir performed Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) by J.S. Bach in co-operation with the Orchester Kölner Kammermusiker, the Aachener Kammerchor and the Kinderchor der Musikschule Neukirchen-Vluyn (the concert was recorded on CD).
In 1991 the Carmina Mundi produced Mörike Chorliederbuchs (Vol. 1) for mixed choir by Hugo Distler. In 1992 the choir performed Deutschen Requiem by J. Brahms in co-operation with the Niederrheini Vocalensemble Duisburg. In 1993 the choir produced Mörike-Chorliederbuchs (Vol. 2) for women, man and mixed by Hugo Distler. The same year Carmina Mundi became national winner in the category "mixed amateur choirs" with the choir competition of the Landesmusikrates Nordrhein-Westfalen. In 1994 with 4th the German choir competition in Fulda Carmina Mundi reached as representative of Nordrhein-Westfalens to the 2nd Place of excellently and in addition was classified under the highest category "participated with outstanding success ". Participation in the Choir Festival Euregio" as representatives of Germany with concerts in Hasselt and Lüttich (Belgium), Maastricht (Holland) and Aachen. Also in 1994 a concert of the choir was recorded by the Westdeutschen Rundfunk (Messe für sew vierstimmige Chöre by Frank Martin). 1995 brought CD production with works of contemporary composers (Chormusik im 20. Jahrhundert ), i.e. Ersteinspielung of Drei österlichen Motetten (Werner Haentjes) - on behalf of the WDR.
1997 brought production of the Neuen Chorliederbuchs, op. 16 by Hugo Distler, and participation as an only non-Latin American representative with the choir festival Cantapueblo in Mendoza (Argentina) on suggestion and with support of the German Deutschen Musikrats. In 1998 Carmina Mundi recorded live-CD of Dixit Dominus (George Frideric Handel) and two Bach Cantatas (BWV 27 & BWV 105). The same year the choir recorded another live-CD with compilation of European choir music and concert tour to Burgund. 1999 Carmina Mundi was distinguished with the international choir competition in Spittal a.d. Drau, with the 2nd prize in the art song competition. 2nd Place in the category "mixed choirs" with the international choir competition Harmonie-Festival in Lindenholzhausen with the classification to the highest achievement category. In 2000 the choir produced CD with choir music from North Eastern Europe: "Ex oriente lux" and made concert tour to Estonia, promoted of the Deutschen Musikrat.
In 2001 the Estonian Tallinna Kammerchor attended in Aachen. The same year Carmina Mundi was winner of the highest performance level of the "open category" in the "choir competition of the Landesmusikrates Nordrhein-Westfalen and was passed on to the German choir competition in Osnabrück. In 2002 Carmina Mundi, described by the jury as "very good achievement" was distinguished in the "open category" with the German choir competition. The same year the choir participated in the Rheinischen Musikfest with the program "Chorimpressionen". The concert was broadcasted in June 2002 by the WDR 3. In 2003 Carmina Mundi celebrated its 20-anniversary with a concert in the Aachen's Aula Carolina. The same year concert tour led the choir to Estonia and common performances there of the Messe für zwei vierstimmige Chöre by Franc Martin. |
