Norbert Balatsch facts for kids

Norbert Balatsch (10 March 1928 – 6 May 2020) was an Austrian conductor. He was especially known for leading choirs. He started his career as a baritone singer in a choir.

Balatsch was the main choir director for a long time at both the Vienna State Opera and the Bayreuth Festival. Two of the recordings he worked on won Grammy Awards. These are very important awards in music.

A Life in Music

Norbert Balatsch was born in Vienna on 10 March 1928. From 1938 to 1944, he was a member of the famous Wiener Sängerknaben, also known as the Vienna Boys' Choir.

In 1952, Balatsch became a baritone singer in the opera choir at the Vienna State Opera. A year later, he also started conducting a men's choir in Vienna.

At the State Opera, he became the main choir director. He first led the extra choir in 1965. Then he became the vice choir conductor in 1967. In 1968, he became the Chordirektor, which means the head chorus director. He held this important job until 1983.

From 1975 to 1980, he also directed the Philharmonia Chorus in London. This choir is very well-known.

Leading Choirs at Bayreuth

Balatsch was the chorus director of the Bayreuth Festival from 1972 to 1999. This festival is a very famous music event in Germany. It focuses on the operas of Richard Wagner.

At Bayreuth, he worked with many famous conductors. He helped prepare the choir for many important performances. These included the famous Jahrhundertring (Centenary Ring Cycle) in 1976. His last production there was Der fliegende Holländer in 1999.

Work in Italy and Awards

From 1983, Balatsch became the conductor of the Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Italy. He prepared the choir for concerts with famous conductors like Lorin Maazel. They performed works like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

From 1999 to 2001, Balatsch returned to lead the Vienna Boys' Choir. He prepared the boys for a recording of Bach's St Matthew Passion in 2000.

Balatsch rehearsed choirs for many recordings. Two of these recordings won Grammy Awards. One was Mozart's Requiem in 1981. The other was Bach's St Matthew Passion in 2001. These awards were for Best Choral Performance.

In 2006, he returned to the Vienna State Opera for a special production. After this, he was given an honorary membership to the opera house.

Norbert Balatsch passed away in Vienna on 6 May 2020. He was 92 years old.

Special Recognitions

Norbert Balatsch received special honors for his work. He was given the Goldener Ehrenring (Ring of Honor in Gold) from the Bayreuth Festival. He also received an Ehrenring from the Vienna State Opera. These rings are like special awards for his great contributions.

In 2008, he received a very high award from Italy. It was called the great cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.