Known over the world – at home in Dresden

GNTB theme-based marketing
Known over the world – at home in Dresden:
800 years of the Kreuzchor boys’ choir
Frankfurt am Main, November 2015 – One of Germany’s most important cultural institutions
is celebrating a major anniversary in 2016. For 800 years, the Dresden Kreuzchor boys’ choir
has played a significant part in establishing Dresden’s reputation as a European city of
culture. The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) is using the anniversary as an
opportunity to promote this particular aspect of Destination Germany with a theme-based
campaign.
Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB):
“Dresden’s range of cultural attractions reinforces Germany’s position as the number one
cultural destination among Europeans. Its number of overnight stays by visitors from abroad
has risen every year since 2006 and by more than 70 percent overall to reach 830,000. This
makes Dresden one of the ten most popular city destinations in Germany.”
Dresden, Saxony’s capital and former seat of the Electors of Saxony, is renowned as a city
of music all over the world. It is home to internationally acclaimed orchestras, such as the
Dresden State Orchestra and the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, and presents a vibrant
programme of music theatre at the Semper Opera House. The city’s prestigious boys’ choirs
keep alive a centuries-old tradition of church music from Heinrich Schütz to modern-day
compositions. “Visitors from all over the world can enjoy music of a world-class standard at
any time in Dresden – from the repertoire performances by operatic ensembles and the
much-cherished tradition of church music to concerts by orchestras and choirs,” says
Hedorfer. “Special events, such as the annual Dresden Music Festival, provide an additional
international dimension.”
The Dresden Kreuzchor boys’ choir: ambassadors for Germany’s musical heritage
The Dresden boys’ choirs has inspired and delighted audiences for 800 years. Today, the
choir’s primary task is still to sing at church services and evening prayers in the Church of
the Holy Cross on Dresden’s Altmarkt square. Throughout the year, the choir sings at half of
all liturgical services at the church – a wonderful opportunity for visitors from all over the world
to hear the choir performing live. Concerts by the choir at the Kreuzkirche are attended by up
to 3,000 visitors. They come to hear particularly beautiful pieces of sacred music such as the
Christmas Oratorio or St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Acting as an ambassador for its home city of Dresden and for Germany’s musical heritage,
the Kreuzchor boys’ choir regularly goes on national and international concert tours. The
choir also makes appearances at international music festivals and performs on radio and
television. The heart of choir life is, however, in Dresden. About 150 singers, aged between
nine and 19 years, attend the Church of the Holy Cross school, with half of them living at the
adjacent boarding house. As well as following a normal curriculum, the choir boys – known
as kruzianer – receive extensive musical tuition in both singing and instruments. The daily
rehearsals form the basis for the choir’s unique sound and foster a sense of togetherness
among its members.
Saxony’s boys’ choirs in the Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage
In March 2015, Germany formally recorded the first traditions and practices in its new
Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This was in line with the framework set
out by the UNESCO Convention, which Germany adopted in 2013. The boys’ choirs in
Saxony have been included in the first 27 traditions to be recognised. St. Thomas boys’ choir
from Leipzig, the Kreuzchor boys’ choir from Dresden and the Boys’ Choir of Dresden
Cathedral are three of the most eminent boys’ choirs in Germany. They were founded in the
13th century and have the primary task of providing musical accompaniment for church
services.
L'Office National Allemand du Tourisme
L'Office National Allemand du Tourisme (ONAT), dont le siège se trouve à Francfort-sur-le-Main, est
le « syndicat d'initiative » national de l'Allemagne. Il promeut les activités touristiques de l'Allemagne
pour le compte du ministère fédéral de l'Économie et de l'Énergie (BMWi), qui lui apporte son soutien
en vertu d'une décision du Parlement fédéral allemand. L'ONAT élabore et communique des stratégies
et des produits visant à renforcer l'image positive des destinations touristiques allemandes à l'étranger
et à stimuler le tourisme en Allemagne. Pour mener à bien cette mission, il possède 30 représentations
locales dans le monde. Pour plus d'informations, consultez notre centre de presse en ligne à l'adresse
www.germany.travel/presse.