Chemnitz composes Corona Requiem

Andreas Pabst

After more than two years without its own performance, the Singakademie Chemnitz e. V. will perform again on Saturday, 13 November, in the Markuskirche on the Sonnenberg. Andreas Pabst is very much looking forward to it. "We've been working towards this day for weeks to bring a certain normality to our everyday choral life," says the artistic director of the Singakademie, who says he has used the difficult coronavirus period for artists to gather ideas and make plans for the future. In February next year, the city's oldest choir will perform a Corona Requiem composed by him. The 42-year-old reveals what visitors can expect in the Maker of the Week interview.

What is a corona requiem?
Andreas Pabst: A requiem is originally a mass for the dead that was set to music by many composers to commemorate the deceased. As the oldest choir in Chemnitz, we want to take part in the Capital of Culture process and set an example. We have therefore decided to write and perform our own requiem in memory of the victims of the coronavirus pandemic.

But the requiem is not only intended to commemorate. It should also inspire hope and look to the future. For many, the end of the pandemic is a new beginning, including for us as a choir, as we were unable to rehearse and perform for many months. Now we are happy to finally be able to sing again.

What can visitors expect on 27 February?
Despite the church reference, our requiem is intended to be a piece for all audiences, including those who don't normally go to church. Stylistically, it will be in the vein of film music and pop/rock. I want people to find themselves in this piece, for it to pick them up and for them to go home with a good feeling at the end of the piece.

The Singakademie will once again be accompanied by the Mittelächsische Philharmonie Freiberg and two soloists.

Are you composing this yourself?
Yes

How long does it take?
A long time. I started in the summer. I don't work on it every day, but very often. That adds up to quite a few hours a week, as I not only compose myself, but also orchestrate and create the sheet music for the choir, soloists and orchestra.

Born in Karl-Marx-Stadt, he sang in the Dresden Kreuzchor. He trained as a conductor and pianist at the Carl Maria von Weber Academy of Music in Dresden. During his studies, he was engaged as music supervisor on the cruise ship AIDA and conducted the choir recordings for the album "Reise, Reise" by the rock band Rammstein. He has conducted numerous musicals such as "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Dance of the Vampires", was a regular guest as assistant musical director for musical productions at the Vereinigte Bühnen Bozen, and had guest contracts at the Staatsoperette Dresden and the Chemnitz Opera. Most recently, he worked as choir director and orchestra leader at the Sorbian National Ensemble in Bautzen. "I'm currently working as a freelance conductor, composer and arranger again," he says. Since 2012, he has been the artistic director of the Singakademie Chemnitz, with which he is breaking new ground.

Do you run the Singakademie on a voluntary basis?
I receive an expense allowance for my work as director. Apart from that, we are an association and everyone involved works on a voluntary basis.

How did you come to join the Singakademie in 2011?
That was a coincidence. My predecessor Maja Sequeira cancelled at short notice due to illness and asked me to stand in for her. Unfortunately, she died a few months later. I was then asked if I would like to take over the management of the Singakademie in general. That's what I did in 2012.

For a choir director, a choir like this is a stroke of luck. It's an amateur choir and you need patience and a lot of preparation, but in the end the concerts are always artistically appealing. And I'm not saying that as an artistic director (laughs). The motivation of our participants is very high. This means you can try out a lot with them and achieve a lot.

How did your predecessor find you?
My predecessor came from Dresden and we knew each other through my engagements, and we also studied under the same professor.

Every Monday at 6 p.m., 45 to 50 singing enthusiasts meet at the Annenschule. "We actually have 80 members. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, only just over half are coming at the moment," says Andreas Pabst. Anyone who would like to sing together is welcome to come along and have a look. "We've never turned anyone away because it wasn't a good fit. It's a hobby for people, fun is the main thing and that's how it should stay. Nevertheless, a certain amount of professionalism is necessary, because we give concerts with the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra and other orchestras. The performance has to be appealing."

You conducted choir recordings for the album "Reise, Reise" by the band Rammstein. How did that go?
(laughs) That's not a lie. However, it sounds more spectacular than it was. The Rammstein arranger knew someone from the choir I was directing. That's how the contact came about. During the recordings, we were in the studio with two members of Rammstein who gave us instructions.

We didn't hear anything from the actual album. We were given the sheet music, a click track, some drums and the lead vocals. We then sang to that. It was all dry, quite sterile and had nothing to do with a joint performance with Rammstein. But it was still an experience. A joint performance at a concert would of course be a dream. But it probably won't happen.

What goals do you have for the Singakademie?
After these uncertain times, first and foremost we want to secure our staff. We want all choir members to come to rehearsals again and feel comfortable. And then, of course, we want to work on our quality. It sounds like a cliché, but it's true: we always want to improve. To do this, we also constantly need new members.

Our next test will be on 13 November at St Mark's Church on the Sonnenberg. This will be our first concert in Chemnitz for more than two years and we hope to welcome a large number of visitors. In compliance with the hygiene measures, of course.

Is Chemnitz a particularly musical city?
Chemnitz is certainly not unmusical. If you look at the Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra, the theatre and the opera, there's a lot going on. Alternative culture is also on the rise. And we are trying to play our part with the Singakademie.

The city is the European Capital of Culture 2025. How does the Singakademie intend to participate?
We definitely want to be involved. In the coming weeks, the new Managing Director of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 GmbH, Stefan Schmidtke, has announced his intention to visit us. And then we'll see what we can do together.