Matthias Janz celebrates 50 years of the Flensburg Bach Choir: A musical legacy!

Matthias Janz celebrates 50 years of the Flensburg Bach Choir: A musical legacy!

There is a very special anniversary to celebrate in Flensburg: Professor Matthias Janz has led the Flensburg Bach Choir for 50 years. At 78, he can look back on an impressive career in church music. The Flensburg Bach Choir itself has developed over the years from St. Mary's Church into a respected registered association known for its outstanding achievements in choral music. This is what rp-online reveals on the occasion of this milestone birthday.

In the first rehearsal for the next performance on July 25th, Janz will get the members of the choir in the mood for the upcoming Bayreuth Festival, which traditionally begins on this date. His way of creating a relaxed rehearsal atmosphere in which mistakes are sometimes allowed shows that he has a good knack for working with his ensemble.

An evening full of musical highlights

A special highlight took place on May 31, 2025: the festival concert in the Deutsches Haus Flensburg, which commemorated Janz's 50th anniversary as choir director. At this remarkable event, Bach's B minor Mass BWV 232 was performed, which was accompanied not only by the Flensburg Bach Choir, but also by the Concerto Farinelli as well as top-class soloists such as Hanna Zumsande (soprano) and Daniel Ochoa (bass). The audience was enthusiastic and gave a standing ovation for Janz and his musical colleagues, reports klassik-begeistert.

The performance itself lasted almost two hours and featured period instruments, adding to the streamed quality of the music. The soloists impressed with their emotional performances, especially Juliane Sandberger and her warm alto and Hanna Zumsande with her excellent soprano voice. It was a truly captivating experience in a packed 1,500-seat hall.

Shared future for the Flensburg Bach Choir

Professor Janz remains artistically active and plans his projects two years in advance, which shows that he does not stand still even in old age. From Beethoven's “Missa solemnis” as part of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival to other performances, the Flensburg Bach Choir attracts many visitors. Contact with national and international musicians and ensembles is a matter of course for Janz.

The passion that Matthias Janz brings to choral music is not only noticeable in the sounds of the Flensburg Bach Choir, but also in the community that has formed around the music. It remains exciting to see what musical adventures he and his choir will experience in the coming years, because the stage continues to belong to those who love music - and these are not just the great masters, but also the local talents.