Jürgen Banholzer studied the organ privately with James David Christie in Boston (USA), with Ludger Lohmann at the Musikhochschule in Stuttgart (on a scholarship from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes) and with Jean Boyer at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Lyon. He went on to study singing at the Schola Cantorum in Basle and was later awarded a PhD in musicology at the University of Mainz.

As an organist he has given recitals in Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Switzerland. His main interest lies in organ music and organs of the 17th and 18th centuries. In 2021 the CD “O güldnes Licht” was issued by frabernardo, recorded on the Hus-Schnitger organ in Stade (together with the tenor Georg Poplutz). As a continuo player on harpsichord and organ he has been associated for many years with the Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble, and he has been a guest in groups like Freiburger Barockorchester, Balthasar-Neumann-Ensemble, L’Arpa festante, La Dolcezza or Stefan Temmingh & Ensemble.

Together with the Austrian dulcimer player Margit Übellacker he founded the ensemble La Gioia Armonica, which produced under his direction world-premiere recordings of hitherto unpublished works by Antonio Caldara, Johann Georg Reutter, Giambattista Martini and Antonio Sacchini, in collaboration with the lables cpo, Ramée and with Radio Bremen. The critics commented on these CDs: „a delightful range of charming colours and intriguing textural effects“ (Early Music); „brilliant interpretation“ (Goldberg); „breathtakinkly lovely“ (BBC Music Magazine).  The ensemble has since been invited to festivals like the Händelfestspiele Halle, Ton Koopman’s Itinérarie Baroque, the Dordrecht Bachfestival, the Timisoara Early Music Festival, Bagnacavallo Classica or the Mitteldeutsche Heinrich-Schütz-Tage. In June 2021 “Per il Salterio”, the latest recording of the ensemble, was released by the label Ramée. In Mai 2022 Ramée will issue the next CD: „Hebenstreit’s Bach“.

Since 2017 Jürgen Banholzer has taught at the International Summer School of Early Music in Valtice (Czech Republic). He also taught at the Musicology Department of Mainz University.

Until 2010 Jürgen Banholzer performed as a countertenor soloist in concerts, radio broadcasts and CD recordings under conductors such as Thomas Hengelbrock, Ivor Bolton, Harry Christophers and Jean-Claude Malgoire. His recording of solo cantatas by Antonio Caldara was released to great acclaim. As an ensemble singer he worked with groups such as the Huelgas Ensemble, the Johann Rosenmüller Ensemble, Balthasar-Neumann-Chor, and the Amsterdam Baroque Choir.

Further information about Jürgen Banholzer can be found at:

www.la-gioia-armonica.de

About The Class

Solo singing (morning class)
Individual lessons, working on specific repertoire (see below).

Vocal chamber music (with or without instruments): afternoon class
This course invites groups of singers or of singers and instrumentalist, who want to work on a certain repertoire every day during the whole week: either on one larger work (like, for example, the Buxtehude cantatas in recent years) or on a number of shorter works for the same distribution of singers and instruments (any combination is possible; for example: arias for soprano with two violins and continuo, or: Madrigals for SSATB). The participating musicians of a group should be constant from the first day on, and the group will ideally be rehearsing every afternoon for one hour to ensure good progress of ensemble singing/playing.

For the application it is suggested, that one member of the group apply for the whole group, specifying at this moment the number of group members and their voice type / instrument as well as their chosen repertoire. Please also specify the kind of musical experience of the singers and players involved. I am aiming at then choosing three ensembles that will rehearse together every day. Individuals with no specific repertoire and no musical partners will not be admitted to the course.

Once accepted the participating ensembles are asked to send the scores of the specific works they would like to perform as well as their distribution (i.e. who will be singing and playing which part) to the following adress: registrace@early-music.cz, possibly by the middle of June.

Suggested Repertoire

Solo singing
Italian or German repertoire from 17th and 18th century
English music – Dowland or other lutesong composers, Purcell, Händel
Please send me a list of pieces you would like to sing by the middle of June mailing it to the following adress: tutors@early-music.cz

Vocal chambre music (with or without instruments)
Bring any Italian or German Repertoire for voice(s) and instrument(s): Arias, Duetti, Ensembles etc. Any combination is welcome. Singers are also invited to choose madrigals or motets which they would like to perform a capella.

Level Of Skills Required

Intermediate, advanced and professionals

Maximum number of students

Solo singing - 8 / Vocal chamber music - 3 ensembles

Teaching Languages

English, German