Kammerakademie Potsdam
The debut at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, successful tours throughout Europe, Asia and South America and the 2015 Classical prize in the “Ensemble/Orchestra of the Year” category are just a few highlights of the Kammerakademie Potsdam’s exciting development. A leading chamber orchestra in the state of Brandenburg and resident orchestra of Potsdam’s Nikolaisaal, Kammerakademie Potsdam impresses with the highest artistic quality, outstanding live performances and both contemporary and historically-informed interpretations. Musically versatile and with a vibrant style of music-making, the orchestra offers a more wide-ranged programme than ever in 2020/21.
Antonello Manacorda was appointed artistic director and principal conductor in the 2010/11 season; his predecessors include Sergio Azzolini, Andrea Marcon and Michael Sanderling.
For the 2020/21 season KAP will be bringing world renowned soloists to Potsdam. The orchestra is proud to present clarinetist, conductor and composer Jörg Widmann as artist in residence and looks forward to tours through the concert halls of Germany with violinist Christian Tetzlaff. Joining KAP for their debuts with the orchestra are Elisabeth Leonskaja, Cédric Tiberghien and Kian Soltani and the orchestra also welcomes returning solists Dagmar Manzel, Robin Johannsen, Andreas Ottensamer, Gábor Boldoczki, Kristian Bezuidenhout and Igor Levit. Internationally acclaimed guest conductors such as Michael Sanderling, Trevor Pinnock, Paul McCreesh and Adam Benzwi will be on the podium leading the orchestra. Following its recording of Mendelssohns “Lobgesang”, the orchestra will continue its collaboration with the NDR Choir under the baton of Klaas Stok.
The Potsdamer Winteroper, a coproduction of KAP and the Hans Otto Theater, will make its long awaited return to the Schlosstheater im Neuen Palais with Benjamin Britten’s chamber opera “The Rape of Lucretia” in 2020. Isabel Ostermann will direct and the orchestra will perform under the baton of British conductor Douglas Boyd. Soprano Kate Royal will join the star-studded cast as narrator.
The Kammerakademie Potsdam will continue to be a cultural ambassador for the city and the state of Brandenburg and will be making appearances at prestigious festivals and concert venues including the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Bozar Brüssel, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie Köln, Philharmonie Berlin, Alte Oper Frankfurt and Heidelberger Frühling.
Musical and cultural education has always been a vital part of the Kammerakademie Potsdam’s work. A particularly special collaboration has been formed with the Drewitz Primary School, where the trio of orchestra, school and community centre, named “Music Creates Perspectives”, has created a unique and nationally recognised model of cultural outreach. It has been awarded the coveted “Kultur öffnet Welten” prize by the Minister for Culture and Media.