Figuralchor Frankfurt

Figuralchor Frankfurt is a mixed choir in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. It was founded in 1966 as a youth choir for the broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk by Alois Ickstadt, who conducted it for 45 years. From 1977 to the 1990s, the choir was known as Figuralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks. It performs in concerts, radio productions and recordings, with a focus on a cappella music, but has also participated in joint symphonic productions such as Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand for the opening of the Alte Oper concert hall in 1981. The choir has been conducted by Paul Leonard Schäffer since 2016.

Figuralchor Frankfurt
Choir
Also known asFiguralchor des Hessischen Rundfunks
OriginFrankfurt, Hesse, Germany
Founded1966 (1966)
FounderAlois Ickstadt
GenreMixed radio choir
Members60
Chief conductorPaul Leonard Schäffer
AffiliationHessischer Rundfunk
Websitewww.figuralchor-frankfurt.de

History

The choral conductor and pedagogue Alois Ickstadt, who had founded the children's choir for the broadcaster Hessischer Rundfunk (hr) in 1961, founded a youth choir, which would become the Figuralchor, for the station in 1966,[1][2] according to his concept to educate choral singers from childhood to adulthood in both vocal training and background information. The name Figuralchor was derived from figural music, mostly polyphonic music of the 17th and 18th century.[1]

Ickstadt conducted the Figuralchor in concerts, radio productions and recordings. The first Figuralchor performances, beginning in 1966, were broadcasts.[1] The ensemble sang its first concert for a live audience In 1970, performing motets at St. Leonhard. The choir's repertoire is focused on sacred and secular a cappella motets, but it also performs symphonic works and oratorios,[1] such as Mahler's Eighth Symphony in the opening concert of the Alte Oper on 28 August 1981, conducted by Michael Gielen.[3] In the 1990s, the choir no longer received funding from the broadcaster and changed its name to Figuralchor Frankfurt, but it still has appeared in broadcasts.[1]

When Ickstadt retired in 2011, Martin Lücker succeeded him.[1] Paul Leonard Schäffer became conductor in 2016, the year of the choir's 50th anniversary, after having assisted Lücker for three years.[4] Schäffer conducted the choir in a festive concert at the Clara Schumann Saal of Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium on 16 September 2016 in a performance of Schubert's Mass in E-flat major.[5] The choir performed Bach's Christmas Oratorio at the Alte Oper in 2017.[6]

Recordings

Literature
  • Herbert Schneider, ed. (1994). "Aspekte der Zeit in der Musik – Alois Ickstadt zum 65. Geburtstag". Musikwissenschaftliche Publikationen. Zürich, New York. 4. ISBN 3-487-10517-9. Olms. Hildesheim

References
  1. Bomba, Andreas (12 July 2016). "50 Jahre Figuralchor Frankfurt / Musik muss live gesungen werden". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  2. "Ehrenplakette der Stadt Frankfurt für Alois Ickstadt". Neue Musikzeitung (in German). 30 June 2006. Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  3. "Eröffnungskonzert". Alte Oper (in German). 28 August 1981. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. Gottwals, Gernot (19 March 2016). "Frankfurter Figuralchor / Mit neuer Leitung ins Jubeljahr". Frankfurter Neue Presse (in German). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  5. "50 Jahre "Figuralchor Frankfurt" / Clara Schumann Saal". Dr. Hoch's Konservatorium (in German). 30 June 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  6. "Figuralchor Frankfurt". Verband deutscher Konzertchöre (in German). Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  7. OCLC 85900062
  8. "Alois Ickstadt / Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works". Bach Cantatas Website. 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  9. Recordings by Alois Ickstadt German National Library
  10. Trionfi / Carl Orff German National Library
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