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The Bachchor Heidelberg (= Heidelberger Bach-Chor; Bach Choir of Heidelberg) is one of the oldest choirs in Germany. The Choir was founded in 1885 by the then university music director Philipp Wolfrum, " ... for the care of serious, especially sacred music ... " and to perform large important works of Naroque and Romantic literature.
In 1919 Wolfrum assistant Meinhard Poppen became Director of the Choir, and continued to direct it through a hard time after the World War II until 1956. Poppen was also a university music director and established the close relationship between the two choir of his Alma Mate, the city of Heidelberg.From 1956 until his death in 1985 the choir was directed by the church musician Erich Hübner. He opened the choir to the contemporary repertoire, but also deepened beside the perpetual work in the works of J.S. Bach.
Since 1987, Christian Kabitz, Church Music Director (KMD) in Würzburg, who is until now the 4th Artistic Director in the 125-year history of the traditional choir. He conducts annually the Bachchor concerts permed together with the Philharmonischen Orchester Heidelberg. A first major concert tour led the Choir in 1987 to Sicily. In 1991 the Choir was a guest at the Israel Festival 3 concerts of cantatas. In 1999 the Choir visited Ukraine, and 2005 the Choir appeared in Shanghai, China. In addition, regular broadcasts at Südfunk Stuttgart have made the Choir and its conductor known beyond Heidelberg area. |
