Andreas Reize clarifies that the historical fact that in Bach's time women were generally not allowed to sing in church can no longer be used as an argument today.

The 47-year-old Swiss, who has been Bach's 18th successor as Leipzig Thomaskantor since autumn 2021 and thus holds one of the most respected church musician positions in the Protestant Church in Germany, is convinced that boys' choirs have a specific sound pattern that despite all equality is worth preserving.

"I see that as my sound ideal," he says, adding that this does not say anything against the qualities of mixed choirs or girls' choirs.

Guido Holze

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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He grew up in his native town of Solothurn and sang in the choir of the St. Ursen Cathedral, which he also directed from 2007 to 2021.

Now, as Thomaskantor, he continues “what has been done for centuries and what I have done all my life”.

From his experience, Reize believes that working with a group of boys between the ages of 10 and 18 has educational value as well.

It works differently than a mixed one: "You can dismiss it as antiquated, but I think it's modern again." The collaboration between him and the Thomanerchor has developed very well since he took office, including the inaugural concert in September.

After a “great start”, everyone “floated towards Christmas with waving flags” when it became clear that the traditional and always well-regarded performance of the Christmas Oratorio could not take place due to the pandemic.

Converted and integrated

He then worked “in the smallest of groups with eight or nine Thomaners”, performed the cantatas regularly every weekend in 2021, everything as planned.

However, most of the choir did not live in the alumnat during this phase of the pandemic, but was at home.

The Thomaner and Reize have recently received excellent reviews for their performances, for example at the opening of the Leipzig Bach Festival in June 2022. The hostilities that existed at the beginning have apparently been forgotten.

Not everyone was pleased that for the first time since the Reformation a Catholic and not a German should come into office.

Above all, some former Thomaner opposed.

In the meantime, Reize has converted and, as a cantor, “became part of the community”, as he puts it.

The cooperation with the pastors and the new Thomas organist Johannes Lang works very well.

With the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which traditionally regularly accompanies the choir, the Solothurn, who completed postgraduate studies in orchestral conducting in Lucerne and has a wealth of experience as an opera conductor, has now achieved “a standing” like hardly any Thomaskantor before him, as he says himself.

The choice of the Leipzig city council was probably also because it was hoped that he would be able to master the balancing act between the 800-year-old tradition of the choir and the necessary innovation.

One difficulty lies in the sheer size of the Thomanerchor, which currently has 105 members, including the singers who broke their voices.

Historical performance practice has long favored much smaller ensembles, often with only four singers per part, or sometimes even with soloists.

No dogmatist

In March 2023, Reize wants to make a recording of the St. John Passion with the Academy for Early Music Berlin and only 20 Thomaner, who should be set up in front of the orchestra and not behind it, based on the historical model.

Singing on the north gallery of St. Thomas Church next to the "Bach organ" erected by Gerald Woehl in 2000, from which the choir members look sideways into the nave, is also cultivated.

In doing so, Reize picks up on efforts made by his predecessors Georg Christoph Biller, who was in office until 2015, and Gotthold Schwarz.

A dogmatist is not charms with regard to early music.

Using the sources and the music, he tries to portray the affects appropriately, "humanly and theologically" with substance.

This does not necessarily require historical instruments: "When I hear András Schiff playing Bach on the modern grand piano, I am completely happy."

Only through mutual trust would musical heights be possible, says the Swiss, who now lives in Leipzig with his family.

He sees the care of the Bach as a special task of the Thomaner.

At the Rheingau Music Festival he will present a wide-ranging program with works from Schütz to Bach and Mendelssohn.

At the festival this summer, the Dresdner Kreuzchor (July 20), the Windsbacher Knabenchor (July 24) and the Regensburger Domspatzen (July 31) are also guests on the focus topic boys' choirs.

Thomanerchor Leipzig at the Rheingau Music Festival, Lutherkirche Wiesbaden, July 8, 8 p.m