Grosser Herr, o starker König!


When I joined the Untertürkheimer Kantorei choir two years ago, I didn't know that we would have professional singers performing the solo parts and a wonderful orchestra accompanying us. I told the choir director that it was my dream to sing "Großer Herr, o starker König!" Having had the pleasure (?) of hearing me sing the past few weeks, she smiled at me gently and said that she had already booked a very good bass to sing it. 

God, what an aria this is! My first introduction to it was a recording of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau singing it and I still love his rendition. But when you have the chance to hear it live by a first-class singer such as Thomas Scharr, then you are in for some fun. The piece bounces and blasts the listeners with the greatest assortment of brass arrangements and melodic lines!

I always sing along with it when I play it on CD. I had to keep control of myself during our live performances, though I was mouthing the words and all my emotions were at 110% as Thomas sang it. That will long remain one of my favorite musical moments. 

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