Der Mädchenchor Hannover is a girls' choir of girls and young women, based in

Hannover Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the 13th-largest city in Germany as well as the fourth-largest city in Northern Germany ...

, the state capital of

Lower Saxony Lower Saxony (german: Niedersachsen ; nds, Neddersassen; stq, Läichsaksen) is a German state (') in northwestern Germany. It is the second-largest state by land area, with , and fourth-largest in population (8 million in 2021) among the 16 ...

, Germany. Girls and young woman between ages 14 and 20 perform a wide range of repertoire from

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ide ...

to contemporary music. The choir won prizes at international competitions and made recordings.

History

Heinz Hennig Heinz Hennig (25 May 1927 – 29 January 2002) was a German choral conductor and an academic teacher, known for founding the Knabenchor Hannover in 1950 and leading it until 2001.

, the conductor of the

Knabenchor Hannover The Knabenchor Hannover (Hannover Boys' Choir) is a boys choir founded in 1950 by Heinz Hennig, who served as conductor until the end of 2001. Since 2002, the conductor has been Jörg Breiding. History and music The Knabenchor Hannover has t ...

from its founding in 1950 to 2001, founded the girls choir in 1951, and initially led the group. From 1952 to 1977, Ludwig Rutt directed the choir. From 1978 until his death in 1999, Rutt shared the leadership with Gudrun Schröfel, who then took over. Similarly, from 2017 she shared leadership with her designated successor, who took over in 2019. The choir recorded for German and international broadcasters, and for CDs. Several former members became musicians, some of them professional singers. The choir has achieved prizes at international competitions beginning in 1964.

Awards

* 1964: International competition Neerpelt / Belgium – first prize * 1981: International competition Guido d' Arezzo / Italiy – first prize * 1982: 1st in Cologne – first prize * 1983:

Let the Peoples Sing ''Let the Peoples Sing'' (known until 1964 as ''Let the People Sing'') is an international choral competition currently organised by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The final, encompassing three categories and around ten choirs, is offered ...

– BBC in London – first prize * 1986: for merits for the city * 1987: International competition Varna / Bulgaria – first prize * 1987: Niedersachsenpreis für Kultur * 1989: Internationaler Kammerchorwettbewerb Marktoberdorf – third prize * 1990: 3rd Deutscher Chorwettbewerb in Stuttgart – first prize * 1995: International Smetana Chorwettbewerb Litomyšl / Czech Republic – first prize and winner * 1997: Johannes-Brahms-Wettbewerb Hamburg – first prize * 2003: Internationaler Kammerchorwettbewerb Marktoberdorf – second prize * 2005: Let the Peoples Sing – WDR in Cologne – second prize * 2006: 7th Deutscher Chorwettbewerb in Kiel – first prize * 2010:

ECHO Klassik The Echo Klassik, often stylized as ECHO Klassik, was Germany's major classical music award in 22 categories. The award, presented by the , was held annually, usually in October or September, separate from its parent award, the Echo Music Prize. Th ...

* 2014: 9th Deutscher Chorwettbewerb Weimar – first prize

Recordings

* Reger / Humperdinck / Cornelius et al.: ''Weihnachtliche Chormusik der Romantik'' – 2019 * Andreas N. Tarkmann: ''Inka-Kantate "Töchter der Sonne"'' / Gustav Holst: ''Savitri'' (chamber opera) – 2018 * Fauré / Messager: ''Messe des pêcheur de Villerville'' and Bach / Pergolesi: '' Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden'' – 2016 * Britten: '' Children's Crusade'' / ''

A Ceremony of Carols ''A Ceremony of Carols,'' Op. 28, is an extended choral composition for Christmas by Benjamin Britten scored for three-part treble chorus, solo voices, and harp. The text, structured in eleven movements, is taken from ''The English Galaxy of Sh ...

'' – 2015 * Johann Michael Haydn / Hans Kössler: ''Messen für Frauenchor'' – 2013 * Tarkmann: ''Didos Geheimnis'' – 2013 *

André Caplet André Caplet (23 November 1878 – 22 April 1925) was a French composer and conductor of classical music. He was a friend of Claude Debussy and completed the orchestration of several of Debussy's compositions as well as arrangements of severa ...

: ''Le Miroir de Jésus'' – 2012 * ''Geliebte Seele – Romantische Lieder und Duette'' – 2010 * Orff: ''

Carmina Burana ''Carmina Burana'' (, Latin for "Songs from Benediktbeuern" 'Buria'' in Latin is a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts mostly from the 11th or 12th century, although some are from the 13th century. The pieces are mostly bawdy, irreverent ...

'' – with

NDR Radiophilharmonie The NDR Radiophilharmonie is a German radio orchestra, affiliated with the Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) in Hanover, the capital of Lower Saxony. The orchestra principally gives concerts in the ''Großer Sendesaal'' of the '' Landesfunkhaus Nieder ...

, 2008 * ''Gaude,Plaude! – Psalmen und Motetten aus italienischen Konventen'' – with

Hannoversche Hofkapelle Hannoversche Hofkapelle (''unofficial English translation'': The Hanoverian Court Orchestra), located in Hannover ( Germany), remains faithful to the tradition of historic court orchestras and performs both chamber music and symphonies. The sound ...

, 2008 * ''Gloria! – Weihnachtliche Klänge mit dem Mädchenchor Hannover'' – with Stockholm Chamber Brass, 2007 * ''Von Mozart bis Messiaen'' – with NDR Radiophilharmonie, 2006 * Brahms: ''Gesänge für Frauenchor, Hörner und Harfe'', with NDR Radiophilharmonie, 2003 * ''Wenn sich die Welt auftut – Europäische Chormusik des 19. und 20. Jahrhunderts'' – 2000 * ''Concert for a new Millenium – Mädchenchor Hannover auf der EXPO 2000'' – 2000 * ''Kaleidoskop 2'' – 1999 * Brahms: ''Es tönt ein voller Harfenklang – Weltliche und geistliche Gesänge für Frauenchor'', 1996 * ''Folk songs of the four seasons / Was die Alten sungen'' – 1996 * Johann Adolf Hasse: ''Miserere'' in C minor / Johann Michael Haydn: ''Missa Sti. Aloysii'' – with Kammerakademie Hannover, 1995 * ''Jakobs Stern ist aufgegangen – Weihnachtliche Chormusik'' – 1992 * Britten: ''A Ceremony of Carols'' / Heinrich von Herzogenberg: ''6 Mädchenlieder'' /

Petr Eben Petr Eben (22 January 1929 – 24 October 2007) was a Czech composer of modern and contemporary classical music, and an organist and choirmaster. His life Born in Žamberk in northeastern Bohemia, Eben spent most of his childhood and early ...

: ''Griechisches Wörterbuch'' – 1990 * ''Chorwerke der Romantik'' – 1986 * ''Kaleidoskop'' – collection 1982–1993

Film

Die Stimme der Mädchen
NDR television 2017, author: Tobias Hartmann, first aired 3 December 2017

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Madchenchor Hannover German choirs Choirs of children Musical groups established in 1951 1951 establishments in West Germany Musical groups from Hanover