ABOUT
Florian Helgath has established himself internationally as one of the leading choral conductors. Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of Chorwerk Ruhr and the Zürcher Sing-Akademie, has shaped the ensembles into top international choirs of the highest calibre, both with cappella music as well as in the field of choral symphonies.
Experts were unanimous that Florian Helgath got the choral conductor gene, an incorruptible ear, so to speak, for every music and, above all, curiosity.
Rheinische Post, Wolfram Goertz, 15.05.2025
Florian Helgath is a regular guest with the RIAS Kammerchor, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks, SWR Vokalensemble, MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig, The Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Netherlands Radio Choir, Choeur de Radio France, Gulbenkian Choir, Coro da Música Porto, Flemish Radio Choir and Croatian Radio Symphony & Choir.
He has also worked with orchestras such as the Gulbenkian Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony, Denmark Philharmonic, Stavanger Symphony, Brussels Philharmonic, Odense Symphony, Münchner Rundfunkorchester, WDR Funkhausorchester, Munich and Bochum Symphony Orchestra, Dortmund and Duisburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Zurich Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Resonanz.
In the field of historical performance practice he has realized projects with Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, Freiburg Barockorchester, Concerto Köln, B'Rock Orchestra and Orchestra La Scintilla of the Zurich Opera.
Florian Helgath also attracted attention on the opera stage with extraordinary productions. These include Heinrich Schütz / Nikolaus Brass Earth Diver with Chorwerk Ruhr and Muziektheater Transparant at the Ruhrtriennale and Philip Glass Einstein on the Beach at Theater Dortmund.
Engagements led him to major concert halls and festivals such as Berlin Festspiele, Schwetzingen Festspiele, Bachfest Leipzig, Donaueschingen Musiktage, Eclat Festival Neue Musik Stuttgart, Thüringen Bachwochen, BR Musica Viva, ION Nuremberg and particularly to Ruhrtriennale with contemporary opera performances and numerous manifold projects. In addition to a cappella projects, Florian Helgath focusses on performances of choral symphonic and symphonic repertoire.
Further ahead are visits with Nederlands Kamerkoor, Netherlands Radio Choir, NDR Vokalensemble Hamburg, Coro da Música Porto etc. apart of his projects with Chorwerk Ruhr and Zürcher Sing-Akademie.
Florian Helgath's discography includes numerous highly acclaimed albums such as
Carré/Chorbuch with Chorwerk Ruhr on the Coviello Classics label (Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik 2022), the album Geistliche Gesänge with
works by J.S. Bach, Reger, Knut Nystedt with the MDR Rundfunkchor (ICMA Award 2017) or Da Pacem: Echo of the Reformation with the RIAS Kammerchor and
Capella de la Torre (ECHO Klassik 2017).
His latest album focuses on Frank Martin and Swiss composers of the 20th century with the Zürcher Sing-Akademie (Claves Records).
The album of Tigran Mansurian's Requiem with the RIAS Kammerchor with Munich Chamber Orchestra by ECM Records was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 (Best Choral Performance).
From 2009 to 2015 Florian Helgath conducted the Danish Radio Choir in Copenhagen and led the Via Nova Choir Munich from 2008 to 2016. With this ensemble he has conducted numerous world premieres and has been awarded international prizes.
Florian Helgath gained his first musical experience with Regensburg Domspatzen and at Hochschule für Musik und Theater Munich. Michael Gläser, Stefan Parkman and Dan Olof Stenlund were among his important teachers who had a decisive influence on his development as a conductor.
Further important steps in his career was international success as a prize-winner in competitions such as the Eric Ericson Award 2006, the Competition For Young Choral Conductors 2007 in Budapest and the Choral Conductors' Forum of Bavarian Radio 2007.
In 2020, Florian Helgath was appointed as professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne. Since 2024 he has been Professor of Choral Conducting at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Munich.
Season 2025/26
