The Figuralchor Köln was founded in 1986 by its choirmaster, Richard Mailänder and Dr. Friedhelm Hofmann, who was, at that time, the chaplain of Cologne Artists’ Union and who later became the Bishop of Würzburg.
The choir consists of approximately 50 singers who perform sacred a cappella music with a particular focus on 16th and 17th century choral works and on contemporary compositions. Some of the highlights of Figuralchor concerts have been Franz Liszt’s Christus and J.S. Bach’s Matthäus-Passion BWV 244, Johannes-Passion BWV 245 and Mass in B minor BWV 232, each performed in unusual venues. Several contemporary composers, including Enjott Schneider, Hans Martin Lonquich, Klaus Wallrath, Pawel Lukaszewski and Rihards Dubra, have written compositions for the Figuralchor Köln, which the choir has premiered. The main themes are Easter music and Advent music. The choir has recorded more than 10 CD's. The most recent CD was a recording of Pawel Lukaszewski’s Easter oratorio Resurrectio, released by the Polish edition musica sacra in November 2017. |