The North German Radio Choir (NDR Chor) was formed in 1946 and is now one of the leading professional chamber choirs both in Germany and abroad. In August 2008 Philipp Ahmann took over as artistic director, and since then he has honed the choir’s artistic profile. The choir’s repertoire ranges across all musical periods from ancient music to world premières, both a cappella and also with symphony orchestra. With its full, richly nuanced sound and wide dynamic range, the NDR Choir nowadays concentrates primarily on demanding a cappella music.
The North German Radio Choir is the permanent partner of the NDR orchestras and participates in NDR concert series, cooperating regularly with other ensembles of the ARD (the German Consortium of Public Broadcasters) and with leading ensembles in music both ancient and modern as well as international symphony orchestras. Conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Marcus Creed, Paul Hillier, Mariss Jansons, Paavo Järvi, Stephen Layton, Andris Nelsons and Sir Roger Norrington provide the choir with artistic impulses.
The North German Radio Choir makes regular guest appearances at festivals such as the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival and the Internationale Händel-Festspiele Göttingen, and also in international concert halls including the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris. Educational outreach work is very important for the NDR Choir.
