Oratorienchor Würzburg (Choir)

Founded: 2001 - Würzburg, Bavaria, Germany

In the Oratorienchor Würzburg (= OCW) sing several generations in a good mood (musically and personally!) - From students to professors, from puopils to teachers, from PhD students to pensioners, from bankers to housewives - all connected by their commitment to choral singing… It is also possible, just for a special singing project of the choir - that guest singers or talented singers who are not permanently binded with the choir will have good opportunity to particpate...

The OCW developed under the leadership of Matthias Göttemann in the years 1994 to 2000 from the Kirchenchor of the Martin-Luther-Kirche. Through project-based and elaborate staging of known cantatas and oratorios the number of singers in this period grew from an initial 25 to over 100.

Since 2001, the OCW operates as as a free concert choir in Würzburg and outside. This concert choir is supported by the nonprofit association Würzburger Sängerverein 1847 e.V.

The OCW has performed so far:

J.S. Bach: Markus-Passion (BWV 247) (1999), Magnificat (BWV 243) (2000), Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248/1-3 (1997, 2002), Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248/4-6 (1999, 2004), Johannes-Passion (BWV 245) (2001), H-Moll-Messe (BWV 232)“ (2005), Matthäus-Passion (BWV 244) (2006), various cantatas
Georg Philipp Telemann: Lukaspassion (1998)
Reinhard Keiser: Markuspassion (1995)
George Frideric Handel: Messias (German, 1998), (English, 2006), (English, 2002), Dettinger Te deum (2008)
J. Haydn: Schöpfung (1999 & 2009), Jahreszeiten (2001), various small masses
W.A. Mozart: Requiem (2000), C-Moll-Messe (2004), Krönungsmesse (2000), various small masses
L.v. Beethoven: Chorphantasie (1997)
Felix Mendelssohn: Elias (2002), Paulus (2007), Lobgesang (2008)
Johannes Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem (2003)
G. Rossini: Peteite Messe solennelle (2008)
A. Bruckner: Te deum (2008)
Josef Rheinberger: Stern von Bethlehem (2003)
Heinrich von Herzogenberg: Geburt Christi (2001)
Gabriel Fauré: Requiem (2005)
G. Verdi: Requiem (2006)
Camille Saint-Saëns: Oratorio de Noël (2000)
Maurice Duruflé: Requiem (2007)
Arthur Honegger: König David (German, 2003)
C. Orff: Carmina Burana (piano version) 2000, 2004 (concert tour), orchestral version: 2007, 2008 (concert tour in the twin city Caen)
F. Hidas: equiem fürfor soloists, choir & symphonic wind orchestra (2009)
John Rutter: Gloria (2005)

The singers of the OCW come from throughout the region (farthest Directions: 75km!) for weekly rehearsals and occasional Saturdays meetings in order to prepare concerts with the great spiritual and secular oratorios. The OCW meets in various churches and halls of Würzburg, such as at the Kath. Augustiner- und Franziskanerkirche, the Großen Saal der Hochschule für Musik, the Neubaukirche, the ongresszentrum Würzburg or the Evangelischen St. Johanniskirche. Through its concert performances othe OCW has developed to a leading position in the cultural life of Würzburg.

The OCW has made guest concert appearances at Kaisersaal Ebrach, in Haßfurt, in Königsberg i. Bay., at the Wallfahrtskirche Maria Limbach, in Volkach, in Lindesberg (Sweden), in Zinnowitz (Usedom). In May 2008 there was a concert tour to France in Würzburg's twin city of Caen.

The OCW has worked with the following orchestras: Orchester Sinfonietta Würzburg (consisting of advanced students), Orchester Camerata Würzburg (concert-master: Professor Sören Uhde), Prague Philhamonic O4rchestra, Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Suhl, Nürnberger Symphoniker.

Source: Oratorienchor Würzburg Website, English translation by Aryeh Oron (July 2009)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2009)

Matthias Göttemann: Short Biography | Oratorienchor Würzburg | Recordings of Vocal Works

Links to other Sites

Oratorienchor Würzburg (Official Website) [German]