There are many ways at the Deutsche Oper Berlin for budding singers to get actively involved in opera and concerts. With a roll of approx. 150 active singers, the Children’s and Youth Chorus is an important constituent of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Chorus master Christian Lindhorst is the contact person for queries and registrations.

Children's Chorus: Christian Lindhorst
Voice Changers: Rosemarie Arzt
Contact: Tino Breitbarth

The Children's Chorus is supported by Dobolino e. V.

Christian Lindhorst in the Chorus Rehearsal Room © Max Zerrahn

 

Christian Lindhorst studied school music and history at the Berlin University of the Arts and then choral and ensemble conducting. After holding positions as director of the Rupenhorn Chamber Chorus Berlin, staff member of the State and Cathedral Chorus Berlin and musical assistant of the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, he took over the direction of the Children's Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2012. In 2013 he founded the Young Chorus of the Deutsche Oper, which offers young people the opportunity to continue singing at a high level in the chorus. He has rehearsed for conductors such as General Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles, Sir Simon Rattle and Zubin Mehta. 

With around 160 singers, the Children's and Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin is a closely integrated ensemble partner of the opera house. Here, children and young people receive a sound musical and vocal education in age-appropriate vocal groups with the aim of performing alongside professionals on the opera stage and showcasing their skills in concerts. The children's chorus will once again be appearing in many productions during the 2024/25 season, including IMMMERMEEEHR, CARMEN, DAS SCHLAUE FÜCHSLEIN, DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN, LA BOHEME, HÄNSEL UND GRETEL, PIQUE DAME, WERTHER, TOSCA and TURANDOT. The 2025/26 season will then see A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, CARMEN, HÄNSEL UND GRETEL, LA BOHÈME, PARSIFAL, SUOR ANGELICA, TOSCA, TURANDOT and the new production of Detlev Glanert's DIE DREI RÄTSEL (The Three Riddles), in which not only the children's chorus will be on stage, but the two main roles of Lasso and Scharada will also be sung by soloists from the children's chorus.

Aside from the opera performances at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, all the choral groups also appear at other venues in Berlin and further afield. Our youngest budding singers in the Mini Chorus focus for example on rehearsing carols in the run-up to Christmas. The Children’s Chorus, the Concert Chorus, the Voice-Changers (our company of young male singers) and the Youth Chorus cover a repertoire stretching from the Renaissance to contemporary music. In July 2018 the Concert Chorus was travel to Tshwane, South Africa, for the World Choir Games.

Watch the Feature about our children's chorus

Voice training
is one of the foundations of our choir work. All chorus members regularly receive individually tailored voice training from professional singers of the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Vocal training Rosemarie Arzt, Natalie Buck, Andrea Schwarzbach, Ines Schweizer-Perk and Christian Lindhorst
Child carers Juliane Menzel, Tanja Wagner, Helga Müller-Hau

Further information is available on the web pages of the Friends of the Children’s and Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin:

www.dobolino.de

This is the place for singing fans to have fun learning how to use their voice. They will learn simple pieces of song for short performances, e.g. as part of the annual Christmas carol singing, and be sensitively introduced to opera literature designed for children’s choruses.

If boys’ voices are breaking, they are ripe for the “Voice Changers”. Under the guidance of Rosemarie Arzt a voice in the process of breaking is seen as a period of discovery for the voice rather than an impediment to singing. These discoveries are worked into brand-new pieces which are performed by the group in public at regular intervals, accompanied by small, choreographed elements.

If you’re too old for the Children’s Chorus but not quite an adult, then you need an alternative to Mum’s church choir or Dad’s male voice chorus. If you would like to get involved in the Youth Chorus, you should bring with you some experience of choir singing and be available for Thursday rehearsals starting at 18.00.

In the Generation Chorus, people of different ages and backgrounds sing together. Grandparents bring their grandchildren, the neighbour brings his neighbour. And even people who come alone find connection with others here. The repertoire is cross-genre and is made up of what the singers bring with them:  These can be folk songs, pop, hip-hop, folk, hits and much more. The stories of the different generations are reflected in them and told together. The chorus rehearsals are extended with music, dance and theatre workshops.  The Generation Chorus also gets to know our opera house, including behind-the-scenes tours and rehearsal visits. Each season, the Generation Chorus performs a staged concert.

Chorus Masters Senta Aue, Charlie Rackwitz

Rehearsals take place on Mondays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. Participation is free of charge.

Generations Chorus x Children's Club – WERTschätze

The new project for the 2025/26 season

This intergenerational chorus and theatre project brings together the Generations Chorus and the Children's Club of the Deutsche Oper Berlin. People of different ages and backgrounds meet on equal terms and ask themselves: ‘What is valuable to whom and how much?’ Against the backdrop of current austerity measures, they approach this question with choir songs and short plays. In doing so, they explore whether different generations value different things – or whether they perhaps have more in common than divides them.

Just come along or register at 

jungedeutscheoper@deutscheoperberlin.de