As one of the busiest world-class choirs, the chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin dedicates itself to a vast repertoire, singing around 35 different works every season from the great Wagner operas such as Lohengrin and Tannhäuser to world premieres such as Detlev Glanert’s Oceane, which was recently honoured with an International Opera Award.

The first chorus director, Hans Leschke, was succeeded by his assistant Hermann Lüddecke, with the second half of the 20th century characterised by Lüddecke’s work with the influential Walter Hagen-Groll. During William Spaulding’s tenure, the ensemble was voted Choir of the Year by Opernwelt magazine for three consecutive years from 2008 to 2010, and received rave reviews for its guest appearances at the BBC Proms. The chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin has continued to impress under its current chorus director, Jeremy Bines, and was nominated for Choir of the Year at the 2021 International Opera Awards.

Recent highlights include Britten’s War Requiem in the Philharmonie Berlin, and a new production of Götterdämmerung.

Photo: Max Zerrahn