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. 

The Children's and Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, with its approximately 160 singers, is a strongly integrated ensemble partner of the house. Here the children and young people receive sound musical and vocal training in age-appropriate choral groups with the aim of performing on the opera stage together with the professionals and showing their skills in concerts. In the 2023/24 season, the Children's Chorus can again be seen in many productions, e.g. IMMMERMEEEHR, CARMEN, THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN, DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN, LA BOHEME, HÄNSEL UND GRETEL, QUEEN OF SPADES, WERTHER, TOSCA and TURANDOT.

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 and the grandchildren bring their grandparents. Here, 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 Master Senta Aue

Rehearsals take place on Mondays
from 16.00 to 17.30
at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

Participation is free of charge.

Just come along or register at 

jungedeutscheoper@deutscheoperberlin.de