Chor zur Welt

Chor zur Welt

Roughly 75 singers from 23 cultures regularly come together in the Chor zur Welt (English: World Choir) to sing together. The Elbphilharmonie’s ensemble has already achieved a very broad range of projects. This time, the choir makes a journey around the world and pays a musical visit to the native countries of its singers. »I only rarely speak Arabic in everyday life – it is a genuine sense of home when I can sing in my mother tongue here!« a Syrian choir member reveals. Along with this sense of home comes curiosity about other cultures and the social experience – because singing connects us! So, the music likewise serves as the access, platform and nourishment for the intercultural exchange which shaped the profile of the choir from the start. The Chor zur Welt is conducted by Jörg Mall, who has managed the choir since it was founded in 2016 as the Syrian/German project choir. However, the entire choir is involved in suggesting pieces when arranging its programmes – and also the expertise of everyone is sought after for the translation and practice of the correct pronunciation in the many different languages.

Chor zur Welt

Usually, the roughly 60 singers from more than 15 countries in the Chor zur Welt sing a diverse programme with music from all the home regions of its members. But this time, fittingly for the focal point of the 2024/25 season, Brazil is the focus of the Elbphilharmonie’s participatory ensemble. More specifically, »música popular brasileira« (popular Brazilian music), »MPB« for short and also affectionately referred to as »nossa música« (our music) by Brazilians. Heard and loved across all generations and communities, »MPB« combines many Brazilian traditions with pop music. Whether influences from rock, reggae, samba, bossa nova or from the music of Afro-Brazilian culture: everything from the cultural melting pot comes together here. This music is intoxicating, spreads a good mood and lets no one sit still – least of all the choir itself.

»Hamburg – das Tor zur Welt«

The Music Corps of the German Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).

Chor für Türkische Kulturmusik Hamburg / Gökhan Sezen

In the opening concert 2025, the Choir for Turkish Cultural Music Hamburg will be singing the arrival of spring with selected love songs from various regions of Turkey. Later in the concert, the well-known singer Gökhan Sezen from Turkish State Radio will present some love songs by selected Turkish composers.

Monteverdi-Chor Hamburg

A special song recital with the Monteverdi Choir Hamburg, the young star soprano Katharina Ruckgaber and the Salzburg tenor Virgil Hartinger: In Franz Schubert’s incredibly large oeuvre, the choral work is still one of the unpolished jewels of the concert repertoire. The audience can expect heart-rending love songs and contemplations of nature full of longing as well as devotional sacred music. The programme is complemented by humorous piano songs by Joseph Haydn about everyday things, such as unwanted chatter at a wine evening and harmony in marriage.

Gürzenich-Chor Köln

Bob Ingalls' symphonic plea for the protection of Mother Earth, "Mother Earth Cries Out!", culminates in Dvořák's powerful setting of the Stabat Mater. Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical "Laudato si'", Ingalls' work depicts Mother Earth's desperate cry for care. Dvořák's Stabat Mater contemplates Mary's grief and the believer's compassion, ultimately turning to the prospect of paradise.

Philharmonischer Chor Köln

Trauer und Trost vereint der Philharmonische Chor Köln in seinem Programm, in dem Robert Schumanns Totenmesse auf die Schmerzen Marias bei der Kreuzigung Jesu trifft. Voller Lebensfreude war dagegen Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, als er auf seiner Hochzeitsreise den Psalm »Wie der Hirsch schreit« vertonte.Für Robert Schumann war das Werk seines Komponisten-Kollegen schlicht die »höchste Stufe, die (…) die neuere Kirchenmusik überhaupt erreicht hat«. In seinem eigenen »Requiem« verzichtet Schumann selbst auf allzu große Schrecken und stellt den tröstenden Charakter und die Aussicht auf ewigen Frieden im himmlischen Paradies ins Zentrum seiner Vertonung. Und auch Josef Gabriel Rheinberger mildert in seinem »Stabat mater« die Leiden der Gottesmutter Maria immer wieder mit einer ganz persönlichen Musiksprache, die Hoffnung spendet und Erlösung verspricht.

Barockes zur Weihnacht

Konzert zur Todesstunde