SWR Vokalensemble

The radio choir of SWR is one of the interna­tional top ensembles on the professional choir scene. Ever since the ensemble was founded almost 75 years ago it has devoted its passion and extraordinary vocal competence to exem­plary performances and the further develop­ment of vocal music. The instrumental tonal culture and the vocal and stylistic flexibility of the singers are unique and do not only fascinate the audiences in international concert halls, but also the com­posers. More than 250 works were written for the SWR Vokalensemble over the past decades and new ones are added every year. In addition to contemporary music the SWR Vokalensem­ble specifically focusses on the demanding choral works of the Romantic and classical modern period.

From 2004 to 2020 Marcus Creed was the chief conductor of the SWR Vokalensemble. Under his direction the ensemble was awarded numerous prizes for its chamber music culture of interpretation and its stylistic confidence: the »Deutsche Schallplattenkritik« Annual Award, the »Echo Klassik«, the »Diapason d’Or«, the »Choc de la Musique« and the »Grand Prix du Disque« to name but a few. Since 2020 Yuval Weinberg has been the ensemble’s artis­tic director. With the complete recording of all choral works by György Ligeti, released in 2023, he presented his first recording as chief con­ductor of the SWR Vokalensemble, being rewarded with the annual Diapason D’Or and Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.