Silvius Carlos Benedict von Kessel (born 20 February 1965) is a German organist, improviser, composer and choirmaster.
Silvius Carlos Benedict von Kessel (born 20 February 1965) is a German organist, improviser, composer and choirmaster.
Von Kessel was born in Oldenburg. He is Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral, [1] the capital of the Free State of Thuringia in Germany, as well as honorary professor of organ music at the Hochschule für Musik "Franz Liszt", Weimar. [2]
He is President of the festival Thüringer Bachwochen. [3] relating to the music of Johann Sebastian Bach who was born 1685 in Eisenach, Thuringia. The Thüringer Bachwochen festival is the biggest festival of classical music in Thuringia. Silvius von Kessel founded the "International BACH/LISZT Organ Competition Erfurt-Weimar".
He studied organ music and church music at the Folkwang Hochschule Essen with Professor Gisbert Schneider from 1986 to 1991 passing his A Exam with distinction. He continued his organ study from 1991 to 1994 in Paris with Professor Olivier Latry getting the "Diplôme de Concertiste" in 1994. In the same year he was appointed Cathedral Organist and Choirmaster of Erfurt Cathedral. [1]
He has lately composed a big symphonic mass (Missa Cum Jubilo, taking about 70 minutes) for Soloists, Mixed Choir, Children´s Choir, Organ and Symphonic Orchestra. The première has taken place in september 2019 in Erfurt Cathedral and has created an enormous positive echo. [4] [5]
Silvius von Kessel is married to Christine Countess of Königsmarck and they have five children. [6] He is a cousin of the actress Sophie von Kessel. [7]
Erfurt (German pronunciation:[ˈɛʁfʊʁt] ) is the capital and largest city of the Central German state of Thuringia. It is in the wide valley of the River Gera, in the southern part of the Thuringian Basin, north of the Thuringian Forest, and in the middle of a line of the six largest Thuringian cities, stretching from Eisenach in the west, via Gotha, Erfurt, Weimar and Jena, to Gera in the east, close to the geographic centre of Germany. Erfurt is 100 km (62 mi) south-west of Leipzig, 250 km (155 mi) north-east of Frankfurt, 300 km (186 mi) south-west of Berlin and 400 km (249 mi) north of Munich.
Johann Bernhard Bach was a German composer, and second cousin of J. S. Bach.
Blankenhain is a town in the Weimarer Land district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is 14 km south of Weimar.
The Principality of Erfurt was a small state in modern Thuringia, Germany, that existed from 1807 to 1814, comprising the modern city of Erfurt and the surrounding land. It was subordinate directly to Napoleon, the Emperor of the French, rather than being a part of the Confederation of the Rhine. After nearly 3 months of siege, the city fell to Prussian, Austrian and Russian forces. Having mainly been Prussian territory before the Napoleonic Wars, most of the lands were restored to Prussia by the Congress of Vienna.
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The Thüringer Bachwochen is a Baroque music festival in honor of Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the largest classical music festival in Thuringia, Germany. The artistic director since 2004 has been the Erfurt Cathedral organist Silvius von Kessel.
INSA or Institut für neue soziale Antworten is a German institute from Erfurt that offers psephological, political and market research. It is run by the company INSA-CONSULERE GmbH. In addition to its headquarter in Erfurt, the company has an office in Berlin, a service office in Brussels and a daughter company in Innsbruck, INSA-Austria.
The Theater Erfurt is a German municipal theatre located in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. The main stage is in a building in the Brühlervorstadt, completed in 2003. The theatre offers musical theatre and concerts, played by the Philharmonisches Orchester Erfurt. Ballet and plays are offered by guest performances. The company organizes the annual open air festival DomStufen. The theatre's current Generalintendant, Guy Montavon, has held the post since 2002.
The Angermuseum is an art museum in Erfurt opened on 27 June 1886.
The Air Force Band Erfurt is a German Air Force (Luftwaffe) military band founded in 1991 to provide musical support to the city of Erfurt and the German Air Force. Its area of responsibility spans across the German states of Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and northern Bavaria. The 56 member band has travelled internationally to concerts in Belgium, France, Great Britain, Canada, Poland, and the United States. Its scope of duties include protocol operations such as state visits and military parades, as well as other events such as charity concerts.
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Reinhard Schau was a German opera director and lecturer.
Johann Gottlob Töpfer (1791–1870) was a German organ theorist, advisor, organist, teacher and composer. He was born on 4 December 1791 in Niederroßla, and died on 8 June 1870 in Weimar. Between 1804 and 1808 Töpfer attended the Wilhelm-Ernst-Gymnasium school at Weimar. In 1830 he was appointed organist at the city church of Saint Peter and Paul at Weimar. He held this post until his death, despite attempting to resign in 1844 because of unreasonable conditions; he withdrew his request later. Töpfer was respected by his contemporaries as a virtuoso and organ expert. He enjoyed a relationship of mutual respect with Franz Liszt amongst others.
Michael Kapsner is a German composer, organist, conductor, improvisator and music educator. He teaches at the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar.
Johannes Schäfer was a German organist. He became known above all for his concerts and his work as an organ teacher.
Johannes M. Schröder is a German organist, composer and Catholic church musician. After several years responsible for the church music at the Westerwälder Dom, he moved to St. Bonifatius, Wiesbaden. He is also a lecturer and a music editor.
St Bartholomew's Church in the historical city centre of Erfurt in Thuringia, Germany, was a Gothic church building at the western Anger square. Today, only its tower, the Bartholomäusturm, remains; since 1979, it has been housing a carillon.
Hermann-Josef Blanke was a German academic and legal scholar.
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