Vocalensemble Rastatt & Les Favorites
Vocalensemble Rastatt and the original sound ensemble Les Favorites, with their conductor Holger Speck, are among top-ranked ensembles on an international scale. They stand for excellence, liveliness and authenticity.

Compelling, stylistically accurate and historically informed interpretations laced with passion and emotion characterise their performances. Above all, the Grammy nomination for the production of Mozarts „Le nozze di Figaro“ (Deutsche Grammophon) testifies the ensembles’ outstanding reputation.

All CD, radio and television productions (Carus, SWR, Radio France, Deutschlandradio Kultur, Deutschlandfunk) have received excellent international reviews:

“His sound is akin to pure gold,” (American Record Guide) “Enchanting, captivating“ (Rondo) “perfect singing“ (FonoForum) “crystal clear, sensitive“ (SR) “little miracle“ (MDR)

Thus, it is no coincidence that Vocalensemble Rastatt acted as the cultural ambassador of Germany on the international political stage of the G20 summit at Baden-Baden Festspielhaus 2017.

The instrumental ensemble Les Favorites is the musical companion of Vocalensemble Rastatt, performing on period instruments. The ensemble varies in size according to musical requirements, ranging from a small continuo group to a full-sized baroque orchestra, featuring internationally acclaimed baroque specialists.

The ensemble is named after the playfully designed “Schloss Favorite” near Rastatt in Baden-Württemberg, the summer residence of the Duchess Sybilla Augusta of Baden. It is one of the royal complexes in the baroque town of Rastatt, which is home to both ensembles. In its residential palace, music lovers from all over the country gather for the “Klingende Residenz” summer concert series every year.

The Vocalensemble Rastatt & Les Favorites have performed at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, the Musikfest Bremen, Kölner Philharmonie, SWR RheinVokal Festival, Mozartfest in Würzburg, Festivals like “Heidelberger Frühling“ or „Europäische Kirchenmusik“ in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Europäisches Musikfest Stuttgart, Schwetzinger Festspiele, Wartburgkonzerte and Merseburger Musiktage among other venues. Orchestral partners are Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, European Chamber Orchestra, SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden and Freiburg or Ensemble Resonanz.

What is more, the versatile ensemble likes to go on excursions into the world of opera and does so very succesfully, having performed “Lucia di Lammermoor” and “Norma” with Edita Gruberová and with Rolando Villazón, Thomas Hampson, Diana Damrau in the operas „Don Giovanni“, „Così fan tutte“, „Entführung aus dem Serail“ and „Le nozze di Figaro“, working together with famous orchestras like Mahler Chamber Orchestra for the label Deutsche Grammophon. Together with Klaus Maria Brandauer and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the choir performed Mendelssohn’s “Sommernachtstraum” at Musikfest Bremen. Here, they also joined Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, conducted by Paavo Järvi 2022. John Neumeier's ballet project "Dona nobis pacem", based on Bach's Mass in B minor, is currently being prepared at Hamburg State Opera.

Vocalensemble Rastatt & Les Favorites are supported by the German federal state of Baden-Württemberg as well as by its home city of Rastatt.