The Dresdner Kreuzchor wants to prove its class with a demanding program in the new season. Under the direction of Kreuzkantor Martin Lehmann, the B minor Mass by Johann Sebastian Bach, one of the most demanding works in choral literature, will be performed at the concert commemorating the destruction of Dresden during the Second World War.
At the launch of the new season, performances of Johannes Brahms' "German Requiem" and Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" and "St. Matthew Passion" were also announced.
"With its programme for the 2025/2026 concert season, the Kreuzchor is cultivating the diverse church music heritage of our region and conveying it in a new interpretation for our time," emphasized Dresden's Mayor of Culture Annekatrin Klepsch (Linke). The work with young talent and the school concert are also an indispensable contribution to cultural education.
Commission for Lithuanian composer Diana Čemerytė
For the fourth time already, the Kreuzchor is commissioning contemporary composers to write songs for the Kreuzchor Vespers.
In the new season, this will be done by Lithuanian composer Diana Čemerytė, who lives near Frankfurt am Main and has received several awards for her vocal works. She is writing six new compositions for the musical devotions in the Kreuzkirche.
Baroque composer Andreas Hammerschmidt a focus
One focus is on works by the baroque composer Andreas Hammerschmidt, the 350th anniversary of whose death will be celebrated in October. He worked in Zittau and was also connected to Dresden through the composer Heinrich Schütz.
Hammerschmidt's complete works include cantatas, motets and other vocal works. The Kreuzchor Vespers will primarily feature new discoveries and premieres. The Kreuzchor will also give a guest concert in Zittau.
Advent concert in the soccer stadium
The Kreuzchor can also be heard outside of churches. To kick off the season, there will be the "Ab in die Heide" forest concert on September 14 at the Weißer Hirsch concert venue. The choir will also provide a stage for several environmental initiatives.
On 18 December, as in previous years, the choir will perform at the Advent concert in the stadium of second-division soccer team Dynamo Dresden.
Concert with other choirs in London
As Dresden's musical ambassador, the Kreuzchor will mainly be touring the surrounding area of Saxony this time. On October 4, it will present Sven Helwig's "Requiem A", which was performed in the Kreuzkirche in February, with several choirs and the London Contemporary Orchestra under the direction of Martin Lehmann in London. The "Christmas Oratorio" will follow in Berlin in December.
The Dresden Kreuzchor belongs to the premier league of boys' choirs in Germany. It currently has 143 singers between the ages of 9 and 19.
The Kreuzchor performs vespers and services in the Dresden Kreuzkirche and is therefore primarily responsible for the church's musical life. The repertoire ranges from early baroque to world premieres of contemporary music. The choir regularly collaborates with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra and the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden.
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