Prof. Bernhard Klapprott – Masterclass in Harpsichord and Clavichord

During the course, Prof. Bernhard Klapprott will also deliver a lecture titled:

Playing singable and connected – aspects of vocality in playing the clavichord, represented by sources from the time of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. What does “vocal” mean in the 18th century, and what influence did clavichord playing have on it?

Prof. Bernhard Klapprott is an internationally acclaimed harpsichordist, clavichordist, organist, and conductor.
His discography focuses on original 17th- and 18th-century keyboard instruments and includes, among others, the complete keyboard works of Thomas Tomkins (harpsichord, virginal, organ), sonatas by Georg Anton Benda (clavichord), South German keyboard music around 1600 (clavicytherium), and works by Johann Sebastian Bach (harpsichord and organ), including recordings on instruments built by Andreas and Johann Andreas Silbermann.
Several of his recordings have received prestigious awards such as the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and ECHO Klassik.

A significant aspect of his work involves reviving and performing little-known sacred music of the 17th and 18th centuries, particularly from central Germany.
Together with Christoph Dittmar, he founded the early music ensemble Cantus Thuringia & Capella, with which he has prepared a series of premiere recordings of cantatas, passions, and oratorios by Johann Christoph Rothe, Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, Reinhard Keiser, Georg Friedrich Händel, Johann Peter Kellner, Gottfried Gebel Jr., and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach.
He has also conducted stage productions of 17th- and 18th-century operatic works, performed in historically informed theatrical styles.

Since 1994, Bernhard Klapprott has been Professor of Harpsichord, Early Keyboard Instruments, and Basso Continuo at the Department of Early Music of the FRANZ LISZT University of Music in Weimar, as well as Professor of Organ (Early Music).
He currently also teaches harpsichord at the University of the Arts Bremen. Between 1994 and 2001, he lectured at the same university and held teaching positions at the University of Dortmund and the music academies in Detmold and Herford.
His pedagogical activities include masterclasses and guest lectures throughout Europe and the United States (Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Boston University, Oberlin Conservatory).
He has published numerous articles on historical performance practice, with a particular focus on the clavichord.

Since 2024, Prof. Klapprott has served as Artistic Director of the international summer concert series held at the renowned North German baroque organ built by Gerhard von Holy (1711) in St. Bartholomew’s Church in Dornum (East Frisia).
In addition to his extensive work in early music, he is also a composer – his duet for two harpsichords has been published by Bärenreiter (Contemporary Music Series).

Bernhard Klapprott studied harpsichord in Cologne and Amsterdam under Hugo Ruf and Bob van Asperen, organ with Michael Schneider and Ewald Kooiman, and church music.
He also regularly participated in basso continuo masterclasses with Jesper Christensen and organ masterclasses with Michael Radulescu.
In 1991, he won First Prize at the 10th International Organ Competition (Bach/Mozart) at the Festival van Vlaanderen in Bruges.