During the course, Prof. Bernhard Klapprott will also give a lecture entitled:

Singing and connected playing - aspects of vocalism in clavichord playing using sources from the time of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach as an example. What does ‘vocal’ mean in the 18th century and what influence did clavichord playing have on this?

 

Bernhard Klapprott performs internationally as a harpsichordist, clavichordist, organist and conductor. His discography mainly documents original keyboard instruments from the 17^th and 18^th centuries and includes, among others, the complete keyboard music by T. Tomkins (harpsichord, virginal, organ), sonatas by G.A. Benda (clavichord), South German keyboard music around 1600 (clavicytherium), works by J.S. Bach (harpsichord and organ, e.g. part of the complete recording on organs built by Andreas and Johann Andreas Silbermann). Several of his CDs have been awarded the „Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik“ and the „ECHO Klassik“.  

Another focus is on the rediscovery and performance of unknown church music of the 17^th and 18^th centuries, especially from Central Germany. With the early music ensemble Cantus Thuringia & Capella, founded by him and Christoph Dittmar, he presented a series of CD premiere recordings of cantatas, passions and oratorios by J.C. Rothe, F.W. Zachow, R. Keiser, G.F. Händel, J.P. Kellner, G. Gebel d.J. und C.Ph.E. Bach. He was also conductor of several productions of stage works from the 17^th and 18^th centuries, which were performed with historical acting.

Since 1994, Bernhard Klapprott has been professor for harpsichord / early keyboard instruments and basso continuo at the Department of Early Music at the University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar as well as for organ (early music). He is currently also lecturer for harpsichord at the Department of Early Music at the University of the Arts Bremen. He has taught at the University of the Arts Bremen (1994 bis 2001), the University of Dortmund and the universities of music in Detmold and Herford. His teaching activities led him to master classes and guest lectures in Europe and the U.S. (Juilliard/NY, Eastman/Rochester, Boston University, Oberlin Conservatory). He published articles on topics of performance practice, particularly those concerning the clavichord.

Since 2024 he has been the artistic director of the international summer concerts on the renowned North German Baroque organ built by Gerhard von Holy (1711) in the St. Bartholomew´s Church in Dornum (East Frisia).

In addition to his intensive preoccupation with early music, he has composed several works; a composition for two harpsichords was published by Bärenreiter (contemporary music series).

Bernhard Klapprott studied in Cologne and Amsterdam harpsichord with Hugo Ruf and Bob van Asperen, organ with Michael Schneider and Ewald Kooiman as well as church music, and in regular master classes continuo playing with Jesper Christensen and organ with Michael Radulescu. In 1991, he was awarded 1st prize at the 10th International Organ Competition (Bach/Mozart) at the Festival van Vlaanderen in Bruges.