Christian Lindhorst studied school music and history at the Berlin University of the Arts and then choral and ensemble conducting. After holding positions as director of the Rupenhorn Chamber Chorus Berlin, staff member of the State and Cathedral Chorus Berlin and musical assistant of the Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, he took over the direction of the Children's Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 2012. In 2013 he founded the Young Chorus of the Deutsche Oper, which offers young people the opportunity to continue singing at a high level in the chorus. He has rehearsed for conductors such as General Music Director Sir Donald Runnicles, Sir Simon Rattle and Zubin Mehta. 

This is the place for singing fans to have fun learning how to use their voice. They will learn simple pieces of song for short performances, e.g. as part of the annual Christmas carol singing, and be sensitively introduced to opera literature designed for children’s choruses.

The Children's and Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, with its approximately 160 singers, is a strongly integrated ensemble partner of the house. Here the children and young people receive sound musical and vocal training in age-appropriate choral groups with the aim of performing on the opera stage together with the professionals and showing their skills in concerts. In the 2022/23 season, the children's choir will once again be performing in many productions, e.g. CARMEN, LA BOHEME, TOSCA and TURANDOT. The Children's Chorus will also join the orchestra and ensemble of the Deutsche Oper Berlin for a guest performance in Oman of Engelbert Humperdinck's HÄNSEL UND GRETEL.

Watch here a video-Feature about our children's chorus

Aside from the opera performances at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, all the choral groups also appear at other venues in Berlin and further afield. Our youngest budding singers in the Mini Chorus focus for example on rehearsing carols in the run-up to Christmas. The Children’s Chorus, the Concert Chorus, the Voice-Changers (our company of young male singers) and the Youth Chorus cover a repertoire stretching from the Renaissance to contemporary music. In July 2018 the Concert Chorus was travel to Tshwane, South Africa, for the World Choir Games.

Further information is available on the web pages of the Friends of the Children’s and Youth Chorus of the Deutsche Oper Berlin: www.dobolino.de

If boys’ voices are breaking, they are ripe for the “Voice Changers”. Under the guidance of Rosemarie Arzt a voice in the process of breaking is seen as a period of discovery for the voice rather than an impediment to singing. These discoveries are worked into brand-new pieces which are performed by the group in public at regular intervals, accompanied by small, choreographed elements.

If you’re too old for the Children’s Chorus but not quite an adult, then you need an alternative to Mum’s church choir or Dad’s male voice chorus. If you would like to get involved in the Youth Chorus, you should bring with you some experience of choir singing and be available for Thursday rehearsals starting at 18.00.