1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
Middle EastUS election Ukraine

The Thomaner - A Year in the Life of the St. Thomas Boys’ Choir of Leipzig

December 5, 2013

They are normal boys who like to play football, have PlayStations and listen to rock music. They attend school, do their homework and sing in the world famous St. Thomas Boys’ Choir.

https://p.dw.com/p/1AHak

This is one of the world’s oldest choirs. It was founded in Leipzig in 1212. The choir has achieved international fame through its association with many celebrated musicians and composers including Johann Sebastian Bach. It has fans the world over and sells to sold out venues in the US, Japan and Australia. The members of the choir are aged between ten and eighteen years old. Their daily lives follow a strict routine. They live at boarding school and learn the importance of community spirit.
This film accompanies the choir members and their cantor Georg Christoph Biller for over one year. It shows what it is like to be a choir member and explains how music plays a prominent role in the development of these young people. The film shows that being a choir member requires discipline and the ability to withstand pressure. The young members of the choir often have to deal with homesickness but learn to enjoy life in a tight-knit community as they celebrate the works of one of the world’s greatest composers, Johann Sebastian Bach.

25.11.2013 DW TV Im Focus Thomaner 04
Choir Practice.
25.11.2013 DW TV Im Focus Thomaner 02
Cantor Georg Christoph Biller.


Broadcasting Hours:

Part 1:

DW

TUE 10.12.2013 – 22:15 UTC
WED 11.12.2013 – 06:15 UTC
WED 11.12.2013 – 13:15 UTC
WED 11.12.2013 – 17:15 UTC
THU 12.12.2013 – 04:15 UTC
THU 12.12.2013 – 10:15 UTC

Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8
San Francisco UTC -8 | Edmonton UTC -7 | New York UTC -5

DW (Europe)

WED 11.12.2013 – 04:15 UTC
WED 11.12.2013 – 17:15 UTC
THU 12.12.2013 – 06:15 UTC
THU 12.12.2013 – 13:15 UTC

London UTC +0 | Berlin UTC +1 | Moscow UTC +4

DW (Arabia)

WED 11.12.2013 – 13:15 UTC
THU 12.12.2013 – 04:15 UTC
THU 12.12.2013 – 11:15 UTC

Tunis UTC +1 | Cairo UTC + 2 | Dubai UTC +4

DW (Amerika)

WED 11.12.2013 – 06:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -8 | New York UTC -5 | Sao Paulo UTC -2


Part 2:

DW

TUE 17.12.2013 – 22:15 UTC
WED 18.12.2013 – 06:15 UTC
WED 18.12.2013 – 13:15 UTC
WED 18.12.2013 – 17:15 UTC
THU 19.12.2013 – 04:15 UTC
THU 19.12.2013 – 10:15 UTC

Cape Town UTC +2 | Delhi UTC +5,5 | Hong Kong UTC +8
San Francisco UTC -8 | Edmonton UTC -7 | New York UTC -5

DW (Europe)

WED 18.12.2013 – 04:15 UTC
WED 18.12.2013 – 17:15 UTC
THU 19.12.2013 – 06:15 UTC
THU 19.12.2013 – 13:15 UTC

London UTC +0 | Berlin UTC +1 | Moscow UTC +4

DW (Arabia)

WED 18.12.2013 – 13:15 UTC
THU 19.12.2013 – 04:15 UTC
THU 19.12.2013 – 11:15 UTC

Tunis UTC +1 | Cairo UTC + 2 | Dubai UTC +4

DW (Amerika)

WED 18.12.2013 – 06:15 UTC

Vancouver UTC -8 | New York UTC -5 | Sao Paulo UTC -2