The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus has had a triumph in its debut with the Berlin Philharmonic. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that at its first performance with the renowned orchestra in the German capital, of Britten's War Requiem on Thursday (11 December), "vigorous applause" from the audience for the orchestra, conductor and soloists turned to "wild cheers" when conductor Donald Runnicles gestured to the ASO Chorus to take a bow.
"It is, after all, something of an upside-down world," observed Der Tagesspiegel, "when our fabulous Berlin Philharmonic turns around on its orchestral stage to applaud a non-professional American chorus behind it."
Journal-Constitution music critic Pierre Ruhe wrote that the choir sang "beyond [its] own formidable standards ... with more timbral homogeneity than I've ever heard ... With the immaculate hush of the 'Kyrie eleison,' ... you could sense everyone in the audience felt a ghostly shiver pass over them."
"But the gigantic ASO Chorus reigned over all," wrote the Berliner Morgenpost, "highly present in voice and with amazing precision and homogeneity, it asserted itself with mastery."
The Journal-Constitution reports that there is already serious talk of not only another collaboration with the Berlin Philharmonic but invitations to perform with other European orchestras.
The ASO Chorus came to prominence under the direction of the late Robert Shaw, one of the 20th century's great choral conductors and music director of the Atlanta Symphony from 1967–1988. The 194-voice, all-volunteer group is now directed by Norman Mackenzie.
— Matthew Westphal
"Aso Chorus Triumphs in Berlin"
Pierre Ruhe - Atlanta
Journal-Constitution - 13 December
2003
"Trau der Stille"
Sybill Mahlke - Der Tagesspiegel [Berlin] - 13
December 2003
(available in English at the Atlanta Symphony Web site)
"Tolles Debüt: Donald Runnicles dirigiert links"
Berliner Morgenpost
- 13 December 2003
(available in English at the Atlanta Symphony Web
site)
(NOTE: External links remain active for a limited time.)
