THE BERLIN STATE OPERA CHORUS
Founded in 1946 after the World War II, Der Konzertchor der Staatsoper (the Concert Choir of the National Opera) consists singers from Berlin and performs regularly at the National Opera of Germany. There has been a good many worldwide famous dramas and operas what collaborates with the choir, namely Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Aida, Parsifal, La Forza del Destino. Their excellent performance in the meanwhile has been recognized across the European Continent.
Frank Blade became conductor in 2010 and one of the highlights was the successful performance of the drama Figaro. Apart from that their specialty lies in musics of J. S. Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Orff’s Carmina Burana, J. Brahms's works, Dvorák’s Messe in D-Dur, Bacalov’s Misa Tango and so on. Every time they render audio and artistic pleasures for audiences by their particular wonderfully charming chorus art.
Der Konzertchor der Staatsoper attaches importance of music and cultural traditions to the chorus art. In the past several decades, the choir has been preserving and developing traditional music and consequently made achievements.
Frank Blade studied in Choir and Orchestra Conducting in Germany and Austria. He was once a coach for the national opera and Aachen Theatre Choir Director. During the season of 2010/11 he worked for the Schiller Theatre as Deputy Choir Director and Art Director of the Concert Choir and Youth Choir of the National Opera. He conducted the choirs for Tosca, Madame Butterfly, The Italian Girl in Algiers, The Elixir of Love, The Knight of the Rose, Wozzeck, as well as collaborated with the west-eastern Divan Orchestra under the direction of Danial Barenboim as a conductor for the successful concert of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Frank Flade at present conducts regularly chorus concerts at the national opera house.
TWILITE ORCHESTRA CHOIR
The Twilite Orchestra, founded in June 1991, has developed from initially an ensemble with 20 musicians into a full symphonic orchestra -70 musicians , a 63-member Twilite Choir, and a repertoire that ranges from Beethoven to The Beatles. The orchestra has earned the respect and trust of international performers with whom they have collaborated such as Natalie Cole, David Foster, Richard Clayderman, Robin Gibb (Bee Gees), Maksim Mrvica, Moscow Rachmaninov Trio, Il Divo. From its first inception, the Twilite Orchestra has been under the baton of Addie MS, both music director and conductor.Indra Usmansjah Bakrie, a co-founder of the Twilite Orchestra together with Oddie Agam and Addie MS, has been consistent in support and patronage, and in leading the orchestra focused on its main objectives: to promote and perform quality music at high standard for the widest range of audience, and to help people learn to appreciate quality music through manifold public and school performances.
Levi Setiadi Prakasa was born in Jakarta on August 29, 1979. His musical education started early at 8 years old, when he had private piano lessons at home. He then continued his education at The Australian Institute of Music, Sydney. His love for choirs had actually blossomed when he joined his high school choir. Apart from his formal education, he also studied classical vocal techniques from foremost classical vocal experts in Indonesia, Catharina Leimena and Joseph Kristanto Pantioso, as well as choir-directing techniques from Paul Widyawan and Budi Utomo Prabowo. Yet, his passion in music craved for more and that was when he decided to join a Conducting Masterclass taught by Robert Sund from Sweden.Currently, he is an active Chorus Master serving several church choirs in Jakarta. Since 2006, he has also served as Chorus Master of the Twilite Chorus, a choir highly affiliated to one of the main orchestras in Indonesia, Twilite Orchestra under the baton of Addie MS.
RIGA LATVIAN SOCIETY’S CHAMBER CHOIR “AUSTRUMS”
Riga Latvian Society’s chamber choir “Austrums” was founded in 1987. Rooted in Latvia, a country famous for its choral singing traditions, “Austrums” is one of the leading choirs across the country and often receives the highest accolades and acknowledgments in various prestigious competitions and festivals home and abroad. “Austrums” stands out for its unique chorus harmonies and specializes in a broad range of music genres, particularly baroque music, classics of Latvian choral music, Latvian folk songs and 20th century music. The singers therein take an active part in repertoires and rehearsals.
Ārijs Ādamsons began his professional carreer at the age of 18, as an assistant conductor with the mixed choir “Sēja”. In the recent two years Ārijs has been the head and chief conductor of vocal ensemble “Adiaminde” and mixed choir “Skulte”. Ārijs has mastered his singing skills at the world-known State baroque choir “Collegium Choro Musici Riga”. Ārijs Ādamsons takes the opportunity to participate in various workshops, master classes and seminars, mastering his conducting skills and broadening his experience.
