Wernigerode 2015 - Program Book
International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition July 15 - 19, 2015 | Wernigerode, Germany The man after whom the festival is named for, Johannes Brahms, and the German Romantics of the 19th century, will be a focal point. This event offers interested choirs excellent opportunities to learn together and refine their specialist skills with coaching concerts and rehearsals with recognized international choral experts. We explicitly invite choirs and ensembles of all kinds who prefer not to take part in competition but like to give concerts in Wernigerode and other regional communities. The festival will provide ample opportunities for groups to perform their repertoires to an interested audience, whether they are specialized in choral, orchestral or folk music. Wernigerode is a town with a very special flair. It is a gem of medieval architecture located on the foot of the low mountain range of the Harz. There is hardly any other town with so many magnificent semi-timbered houses – a feast for your eyes. And it is an excellent stage for the parade and opening ceremony and further open air events
International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival and Competition
July 15 - 19, 2015 | Wernigerode, Germany
The man after whom the festival is named for, Johannes Brahms, and the German Romantics of the 19th century, will be a focal point.
This event offers interested choirs excellent opportunities to learn together and refine their specialist skills with coaching concerts and rehearsals with recognized international choral experts. We explicitly invite choirs and ensembles of all kinds who prefer not to take part in competition but like to give concerts in Wernigerode and other regional communities. The festival will provide ample opportunities for groups to perform their repertoires to an interested audience, whether they are specialized in choral, orchestral or folk music.
Wernigerode is a town with a very special flair. It is a gem of medieval architecture located on the foot of the low mountain range of the Harz. There is hardly any other town with so many magnificent semi-timbered houses – a feast for your eyes. And it is an excellent stage for the parade and opening ceremony and further open air events
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Grußworte / Greetings9Dear Choristers and Singers,Dear Friends of Choral Music,Even twice this year, in July, Saxony-Anhaltwill be the center of attraction and a greatvenue for choirs from all over the world. Thestate capital of Magdeburg is expecting roundabout 80 choirs with roughly 3,000 choristersto come and meet there on occasion ofthe 2nd European Choir Games & Grand Prixof Nations, marking their debut in Germanyfrom July 5 to 12.Only a few days later, from July 15 to 19, <strong>Wernigerode</strong>will again be the proud host of theInternational Johannes Brahms Choir Festival& Competition – already for the ninth time!And once again, I am sure, the more than1,000 choristers and singers from Asia, Africa,the Americas and several European countrieswill make the city resound with music andsong, present their varied choral and culturaltraditions to the audience, and attract numerouslovers of choral music from Germanyand from abroad to Saxony-Anhalt.Johannes Brahms himself, the name giver ofthe festival, rendered outstanding services tochoral music: as composer, with his permanentappointment as choral director and pianoteacher at the court of Leopold III, Princeof Lippe-Detmold, in 1857, and as choirmasterof the Vienna Singakademie. Although heresigned from this position not long after hisofficial appointment, his passion for choralmusic remained fervent and productive. So,for example, he later became the director ofthe Vienna Singverein, and his pieces of choralmusic occupied a prominent place in hisartistic work that includes piano and chambermusic as well as his famous orchestral works.And as a true master of his art, he made useof a wide range of musical forms – reachingfrom songs, lieder and canons to cantos formale and women’s choirs, and from motets tohis great German RequiemThis is why it is my considered opinion thatthe choir festival in <strong>Wernigerode</strong> with its richtradition is in perfect tune with the heartfeltconviction of its name giver, who once said: “Ionly think music. I am in love with music. -I love music, I think of nothing else, and onlyof other things when they make music morebeautiful for me.”I wish to all choristers, guests and organizersas well as to everyone involved and sharingin these festivals a wonderful time here inSaxony-Anhalt and hope that choral musicwill take a very special place in your lives – onthese days of music and beyond.Stephan DorgerlohMinister of Education and Cultural Affairs ofthe Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt
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