Singing in the chorus
The Children’s Chorus and the Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, comprising around 200 singers, form an important part of the ensemble. Here, young voices can develop under professional guidance. In the Junior Children’s Chorus (ages 6–10), the youngest singers learn how to use their voices and are prepared for the great operatic repertoire for children’s choruses. The Children’s Chorus (aged 8 and above) performs in opera productions on the Main Stage. Children who have already gained considerable stage experience sing in the Concert Chorus, performing a repertoire that extends beyond the standard opera repertoire. The Youth Chorus brings together young male voices (from voice break onwards) and soprano and alto voices (aged 16 and above), working on a broad repertoire spanning different styles and eras. From a cappella programmes and oratorios to modern opera productions, the chorus covers a wide musical spectrum. Further project ensembles have emerged from the Youth Chorus: alongside a group of young male voices, a mixed ensemble performs together with well-known singer-songwriters in the concert series Dancing at the door of doomsday (Tanz auf dem Vulkan).
The Children's Chorus is supported by Dobolino e. V.
Contact
Per Kreutzberger (Inspector of the Children's Chorus)
kreutzberger@deutscheoperberlin.de
Musical Assistant
Niklas Wagner (Youth Chorus) and Davide Guarneri (Children's and Youth Chorus)
Voice training
Natalie Buck, Andrea Schwarzbach, Ines Schweizer-Perk and Christian Lindhorst
Childcare workers
Juliane Menzel, Tanja Wagner, Helga Müller-Hau
With around 160 singers, the Deutsche Oper Berlin Children’s and Youth Chorus is a closely integrated partner of the opera house. Here, the children and young people receive a thorough musical and vocal education in age-appropriate choral groups, with the aim of performing alongside the professionals on the opera stage and showcasing their talents in concerts. In the 2026/27 season, the Children’s Chorus will once again feature in many productions, such as Carmen, La bohème, Hansel and Gretel, The Queen of Spades, Tosca, Turandot and the new production of War Requiem. A key feature in recent seasons has been the Children’s Chorus in St Matthew Passion, Immermeeehr, Die drei Rätsel and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. In addition to the opera performances at the Deutsche Oper, all choral groups will also be performing at other venues in Berlin and beyond. Our young singers in the Children’s Chorus are preparing, for example, for the Advent concerts. In its concerts, the Children’s and Youth Chorus spans a musical spectrum from the Renaissance to contemporary music. In July 2018, the Concert Chorus was invited to the World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa. Since the 2015/2016 season, there has also been close collaboration between the choir and Barbara Hoos de Jokisch’s vocal pedagogy class at the Berlin University of the Arts.
Further information is also available on the website of the Friends of the Children’s and Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin
When the boys’ voices suddenly start doing somersaults, they come to the Voice Changers. Under the guidance of Christian Lindhorst, the change in voice is not seen as an obstacle to singing, but as a time of vocal (re)discovery. These discoveries are put into practice in pieces they have arranged themselves, which the group regularly performs in front of an audience, enhanced by small theatrical and choreographic elements.
At the age of 16, the girls also face a transition: together with the male voices of the Voice Changers, they form the Youth Chorus, whose repertoire ranges from Baroque opera to contemporary choral works. In addition to learning a wide variety of choral works for mixed choir, the Youth Chorus collaborates with the youth projects of the Deutsche Oper Berlin to develop new forms of modern musical theatre, such as Song in a Bottle (2014), Happiness and Redemption (2015) and The Big Game (2016), and took part in Ambushed from Behind. Together with well-known singer-songwriters, the Youth Chorus also performs regularly in the concert series Dancing at the Door of Doomsday.
Music knows no age limits: in our intergenerational chorus, we bring together people of all ages with a wide variety of stories and backgrounds. Whether you’ve brought your grandchildren along, persuaded your neighbour to join, or simply dropped by on your own: you’ll feel right at home here. And the best part? You get to have a say! Our repertoire is as diverse as the group itself – from heart-warming folk songs and world music to your favourite pop songs. Together, we’re working towards two highlights: we’re part of the huge community project Music Circus on 12 June 2027, and we’re putting together our own concert programme in the foyer (date to be announced). In keeping with the season’s theme, we’re celebrating love: «Make Love...».
Conductor
Senta Aue (alto in the opera chorus)
Rehearsals
take place on Mondays from 4.00 pm to 5.30 pm at the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
Participation is free of charge.
Registration jungedeutscheoper@deutscheoperberlin.de