Brahms: Secular Choral Songs

Since it was founded in 1948, the RIAS-Kammerchor, working closely with the Berlin Radio Symphony and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestras, has played an important role in the revival of the musical life of Berlin. Conductors like Ferenc Frisay, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan and Lorin Maazel have been closely associated with the Choir, and in more recent years special mention may be made of its collaboration with Claudio Abbado, James Levine and Daniel Barenboïm. However, the RIAS-Kammerchor developed its particular artistic profile independently. And as a chamber ensemble it has established an international reputation as one of the world's leading vocal ensembles, with an emphasis on its stellar performances of the a cappella repertory. In this respect the Choir occupies an unrivalled position among German professional choirs. Under its principal conductor, Marcus Creed, the Choir has gone from strength to strength. At the same time, the Choir has broadened its repertory to include performances of early music, under Nikolaus Harnoncourt, John Eliot Gardiner, Frans Brüggen, Roger Norrington and René Jacobs.