Arranging, conducting, interpreting, organizing: a choirmaster is not only a rhythm and beat generator, but also has to keep an eye on many things, especially if he also has to take care of an instrumental ensemble – and adjust its sound to the vocal soundscape. Nick Hogl, founder and director of the Haarer pop-rock choir “El Chorazon”, has enough to do in the coming days. From Monday to Wednesday there will be intensive rehearsals in the Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium, together with the PhilHaar-Munich-Rock-Orchestra and on Sunday the first concert of “El Chorazon” will take place in two years.
The “High High” program will be performed for the first time in the Small Theater Haar under the motto “Heavy unplugged”: Songs by Bruno Mars, System of a Down, Billie Eilish, Talking Heads, Chainsmokers, Supertramp, Pink, Paul Simon, Sia and Police, rearranged by “Maestro” Hogl. Perhaps just as exciting as the question of whether the detailed work is still bearing fruit, whether the sound between the vocal and instrumental ensemble is finely balanced in the end and the choreography succeeds in the usual thrilling manner, is whether an important participant is not infected beforehand – such as the choir director . “I didn’t have an omicron yet, so it remains exciting,” says Hogl.
The 42-year-old, who graduated from the Ernst-Mach-Gymnasium in 1999, then studied school music and founded “El Chorazon” in 2002, is certainly full of energy and anticipation despite justified caution. “The last two years have been a tough time, but we’re all the more excited about the concert now,” says Hogl. After all the restrictions, distance rules and online rehearsals, the immediate rehearsal work has only really started again in the past few weeks – including a choir weekend.
The program that will be played this Sunday is the third that “El Chorazon” presents under the maxim “Heavy unplugged”. Hogl, who now lives in Neufahrn near Freising and works as a music teacher in Dachau, sees it as the completion of a “trilogy”. In his rocking-pop arrangements, it is particularly important to him to get the choir and orchestra so far “that it grooves, that it really pushes”. It will be interesting to see how the “energy that has been pent up for two years will be discharged” at the concert on Sunday (beginning at 7 p.m.). In addition, El Chorazon is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. “We only noticed that recently,” says Hogl and smiles. The right groove just seems more important than a milestone birthday.