Motets by Bach's Students

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The Vocal Concert Dresden, which was founded as “Körnerscher Sing-Verein” by Peter Kopp in 1993, consists largely of graduates of the Dresden Hochschule für Musik and former members of the Dresden Kreuzchor. The chamber choir’s challenging repertoire extends from programs featuring the music of Schütz, Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn and Brahms to contemporary compositions, some of which it has premiered. The ensemble’s interpretative insight and, most importantly, the emotional impact of its concerts, have contributed to its reputation for exceptional performances and to its artistic standing. It is constantly credited with stylistic assurance and an elegant, natural approach to music-making. The choir has appeared in a number of concerts staged by the Dresden Staatskapelle and the Dresden Philharmonic. It has made guest appearances at Bachwoche Ansbach, the Göttinger Händel-Festspielen, the Schlossfestspiele Potsdam, the Händel-Festspielen Halle, the Ravello Festival (Italy), in Poland and Holland, and also repeatedly in the USA. A prominent feature of its programs is music of the late 18th century, for which the Vocal Concert Dresden has developed a particular affinity. Personal details

Since 1995 the Dresdner Instrumental-Concert has brought together artists who perform music true to historical style on period instruments. The name of the group originated from middle class musical life as it existed in Dresden around 1800. Numerous concerts and recordings – especially together with the Vocal Concert Dresden under the direction of Peter Kopp – display an impressive artistic quality. The primary emphasis of its repertoire lies in the treasures of Dresden’s rich musical history. The Dresdner Instrumental-Concert has been acclaimed in the international press and by the public for its sensitive sonority and its tasteful manner of playing. Personal details

After singing in the Dresden Kreuzchor as a schoolboy, Peter Kopp trained both as a church musician and as a choral and orchestral conductor at the Dresden Hochschule für Musik. While still a student he directed the Dresden Bach Choir. Since 1995 he has been a choral conductor of the Dresden Kreuzchor, which he was engaged to direct when the post of Kreuzkantor was vacant. His diverse musical activities have taken him abroad on a number of occasions. He is particularly interested in rediscovering forgotten gems from Saxony’s musical history. In this respect, performances and CD recordings of works by Johann Gottlieb Naumann have had the same lasting resonance as his most recent releases, “Christmas at the Dresden Court” (Carus 83.169), “Christmas in the Dresden Frauenkirche” (Carus 83.170), and the first recording of the most important Vivaldi discovery for seventy years, the Dixit Dominus. In 2002 Peter Kopp was awarded the Johann Walter Plaquette of the Saxon Music Council, followed by the Sponsor Prize of Dresden, the state capital of Saxony, in the spring of 2003. In addition he regularly appears as a guest conductor with the Bach Society of Houston/Texas and has given courses in choral conducting at two universities there. Personal details