Chor der Hauptkirche St. Michaelis Hamburg (Michel-Chor)

Choir of the Hauptkirche St. Michaelis in Hamburg, the Michel; directed by Jörg Endebrock, rehearsals on Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. in the Bachsaal. Recurring every year in the programme are Bach’s “St Matthew Passion” on Palm Sunday, Brahms’s “Ein deutsches Requiem” before Totensonntag and Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” in Advent, together with three or four further oratorios a year. Works performed have included those by Händel, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Verdi, Poulenc, Frank Martin, Petr Eben, Leonard Bernstein and Wolfgang Rihm. The choir takes part regularly in the services of the Hauptkirche, sings about six Bach cantatas a year and cultivates an a cappella repertoire. Its musical partner in concerts and cantata services is the Orchester St. Michaelis, which is made up of members of the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester as well as of specialists in historical performance practice.