Since 2005 · Berlin

BigBand of Deutsche Oper Berlin

Opera house. Big-band sound. Berlin.
Classical virtuosity meets jazz, soul and swing.

BigBand of Deutsche Oper Berlin on stage
BigBand of Deutsche Oper Berlin · Live

The band

Where opera meets jazz.

“Germany supports the performing arts to a degree far beyond what is practised here in the United States and, as a result, has produced a number of world-class big bands. This is one of them.”All About Jazz

The BigBand’s true birth is considered to be a benefit concert in 2005, featuring twelve brass players and a drummer from the orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin. Alongside Wagner, Verdi, Mozart and Puccini, the musicians set out on a new musical path: ever since, swinging and funky arrangements in the spirit of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico and Peter Herbolzheimer have been part of their repertoire. The band was initially led by baritone saxophonist Rolf von Nordenskjöld; later, jazz trombonist, composer and arranger Manfred Honetschläger shaped its distinctive sound.

The BigBand has welcomed stars including Katharine Mehrling, Madeline Bell, Lyambiko, Jocelyn B. Smith, Pe Werner, Bill Ramsey, Georgie Fame, Jiggs Whigham, Jeff Cascaro and Richard Galliano. A crossover concert was created in 2011 in collaboration with General Music Director Donald Runnicles. In 2016, the world premiere of Manfred Honetschläger’s jazz melodrama “Die Verführung des Pentheus” followed on the main stage of Deutsche Oper – performed by the orchestra and BigBand, conducted by Donald Runnicles and featuring actor Ben Becker.

Further highlights include a concert with Paul Kuhn in June 2012, which marked his final appearance with a big band. In 2014, the ensemble performed for more than 2,000 people at the then unopened Berlin Brandenburg Airport as part of the Brandenburg Summer Concerts. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in March 2016 with a sold-out concert featuring Torsten Goods, Polly Gibbons and Till Brönner. In April 2018, the BigBand was invited to Warsaw for a three-day guest appearance, including two concerts with the Warsaw Philharmonic.

Three albums have so far been released by Mons Records: “Premiere” was recorded with Bill Ramsey in 2008, followed by “How Long Is Now?” with Pascal von Wroblewsky in 2010. The third album, “A Soul Journey”, is a recording of an RBB concert from February 2018. Accompanied by soloists, choir and BigBand, Christian “The Voice” Brückner guides listeners through the history of soul.

Always evolving

Our jazz series

From literary encounters to a relaxed breakfast: four formats, four distinctive perspectives on jazz.

01 Jazz & LyricsWords meet sound

“Since jazz is one of the most fascinating languages, it seems only natural to combine it with text and poetry.”

As part of their new jazz series at the Tischlerei, smaller ensembles featuring musicians from the BigBand of Deutsche Oper Berlin present five concerts with different guests.

The concerts are devoted to a particular theme or composer and allow music and poetry to merge. Texts, biographical material, poetry and background information about each theme make these concerts a special experience.

02 Jazz & BreakfastSunday morning sessions

The highly successful JAZZ & BREAKFAST series at the Deutsche Oper restaurant was discontinued by the organiser RDO for the 2019/20 season, much to the regret of audiences and musicians.

JAZZ & BREAKFAST ran from November 2008 to June 2019 and took place 92 times. A total of 93 musicians participated.

03 JazzComboClose-up ensemble sound

The JazzCombo of Deutsche Oper Berlin is the BigBand’s “little sister”. Nine musicians — members of the opera orchestra supported by Berlin jazz professionals — play arrangements of well-known jazz standards ranging from Charlie Parker and Thad Jones to Count Basie and Herbie Hancock.

At Deutsche Oper, the JazzCombo was regularly heard at the Jazz & Breakfast events. For special concerts and occasions, the JazzCombo invites vocal soloists from Berlin’s jazz scene. The ensemble now also works with young singers from the Deutsche Oper ensemble, allowing them to demonstrate the versatility of their abilities with songs ranging from George Gershwin and Cole Porter to Duke Ellington.

04 Satchmo's Hot SevenNew Orleans spirit

This Louis Armstrong band of Deutsche Oper Berlin consists of seven musicians from the BigBand of Deutsche Oper who cultivate the music of the great jazz legend Louis Armstrong.

Music from New Orleans and from the era when jazz originated on Mississippi riverboats and in the clubs of Storyville. The new arrangements once again recall Louis Armstrong’s original recordings with his Hot Five and Hot Seven on unforgettable shellac records.

The ensemble

Classically trained. At home in jazz.

Musicians of the Deutsche Oper Berlin orchestra and renowned guests from the jazz scene shape the band’s signature sound together.

Listen & watch

The sound of the BigBand

Concerts, three albums and music spanning swing, soul, Latin and film scores.

Discography

Three albums on Mons Records

  1. 01Premiere2008 · with Bill Ramsey
  2. 02How Long Is Now?2010 · with Pascal von Wroblewsky
  3. 03A Soul Journey2018 · RBB concert recording
RBB · Film musicThe Sound of Peter ThomasWatch on RBB →

Contact

Let’s make something resonate together.

Sebastian Krolsbstnkrol@gmx.de