Männer-Minne

MÄNNER-MINNE – Schwuler Männerchor Berlin e. V. is a gay men's choir based in Berlin, Germany. It was founded in February 1987 as the first gay men's choir in Berlin and has been recognized as a non-profit organization since 1989. The choir's stated purpose is the cultivation, promotion and dissemination of choral singing and the pursuit of musical-cultural goals to strengthen community between different population groups and strata at home and abroad. This is pursued through the members' joint music-making, public concerts — which aim to reduce prejudice against homosexuals among other population groups — and contacts with other choirs. The ensemble is a member of Legato, the European umbrella organization of gay-lesbian choirs, the Chorverband Berlin, and the Lesben- und Schwulenverband in Deutschland (LSVD). It has performed at European gay-lesbian choir festivals in Hamburg, London, Groningen, Munich and Paris, and at GALA festivals of American gay and lesbian choirs in Denver, Tampa and San José, California. In May 1988 it hosted the 4th European gay-lesbian choir festival, and in May 2001 it was substantially involved in preparing and running the Various Voices festival in Berlin. The choir has maintained contacts with the United States since 1991, when choirs from Seattle, Los Angeles and New York visited Berlin. Männer-Minne's repertoire is notably varied. Early highlights included a Berlin revue, a Western program and a program searching for a certain "Johnny." Later productions included the musical "Unter Brüdern," two Christmas programs, a 1960s revue titled "Musik ist Trumpf" (2003), "Besetzt" — a musical tour through the four occupation sectors of 1940s Berlin (2004) — and a homage to composer Friedrich Hollaender titled "Ich wär' so gern ein Sexappeal." Further programs addressed fairy tales ("Im Zauberwald") and lyricist Bruno Balz. In 2012 the choir celebrated its 25th anniversary with a concert of old and new pieces. Its most recent programs were "Willkommen in Xanadu," featuring hits by gay icons such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue and George Michael, and "Let's do it," premiered in 2018 and dedicated to gay composer Cole Porter. The choir also rehearsed Carmina Burana with other gay-lesbian ensembles, performed open-air at the Various Voices 2018 festival on Odeonsplatz in Munich and in the concert hall of the Berlin University of the Arts. In 1996, on the occasion of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's move from Berlin to Sweden, the choir released a CD titled "Farewell," on which Männer-Minne is represented with a song sung together with Charlotte von Mahlsdorf and a piece of its own. The choir continues to perform regularly, including its traditional advent concert "Schöne Bescherung" at the Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche in Berlin, which marked its 20th edition, and it is preparing to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2027 at its home venue, the ufa-Fabrik in Berlin.

MÄNNER-MINNE – Schwuler Männerchor Berlin e. V. was founded in February 1987 as the first gay men's choir in Berlin. In December of its founding year, 1987, the choir first presented itself to the public. It has been recognized as a non-profit organization since 1989. The choir's purpose is the cultivation, promotion and dissemination of choral singing and the pursuit of musical-cultural goals to strengthen community between different population groups and strata at home and abroad. This is to be achieved through the members' joint music-making, public concerts — through which prejudices against homosexuals among other population groups are to be reduced — and contacts with other choirs. An early highlight was hosting the 4th European gay-lesbian choir festival in May 1988. Since then, Männer-Minne has participated in the European choir festivals in Hamburg, London, Groningen, Munich and Paris. In May 2001, another choir festival, Various Voices, took place in Berlin, in whose preparation and execution Männer-Minne was substantially involved. Contacts with the USA have existed since 1991, when choirs from Seattle, Los Angeles and New York were guests in Berlin. Since 1992, Männer-Minne has appeared at the GALA festivals of American gay and lesbian choirs in Denver, Tampa and San José, California. The trips were each supplemented by small tours through various cities. Above all, however, German and European contacts are maintained, with visits to and from Dresden (as early as 1990), Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, the Ruhr area, Stuttgart, Copenhagen, Leeuwarden, Ljubljana and Zagreb. The programs testify to great diversity. Early highlights included a Berlin revue, a Western program and a program in which a certain "Johnny" was sought. After the "Jubelkonzert" for the tenth anniversary in 1997, which showed a cross-section of previous programs, the musical "Unter Brüdern" and two Christmas programs were performed. In February 2003, Männer-Minne took the stage with a 1960s revue titled "Musik ist Trumpf"; in the following year, the roughly 25 active members presented "Besetzt," a musical city tour through the four occupation sectors of 1940s Berlin, twice. This was followed by a homage to the composer Friedrich Hollaender, whose career began in Berlin, titled "Ich wär' so gern ein Sexappeal." After the program "Im Zauberwald," in which well-known fairy tales were interpreted in a new way, another program dealt with the lyricist and Schlager writer Bruno Balz. In 2012, the choir celebrated its 25th anniversary with a concert of old and new pieces. The choir's last two programs were "Willkommen in Xanadu," which took up well-known and lesser-known hits by gay icons such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue or George Michael, and "Let's do it," which premiered in 2018 and was dedicated to the gay composer Cole Porter. With other gay-lesbian ensembles, the choir also rehearsed Carmina Burana, which was performed open-air at the Various Voices 2018 festival in Munich on Odeonsplatz and, with the Berlin ensembles, also in the concert hall of the Berlin University of the Arts. In 1996, on the occasion of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's move from Berlin to Sweden, a CD titled "Farewell" was released, on which Männer-Minne is represented with a song sung together with Charlotte von Mahlsdorf and a piece of its own. Männer-Minne is a member of Legato (European umbrella organization of gay-lesbian choirs), Chorverband Berlin, and the Lesben- und Schwulenverband in Deutschland (LSVD). The choir continues to perform, including its traditional advent concert "Schöne Bescherung" at the Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche in Berlin, which reached its 20th edition, and is preparing for its 40th anniversary in 2027 at its home venue, the ufa-Fabrik in Berlin.

• 2018

  Premiered "Let's do it" dedicated to Cole Porter; performed Carmina Burana at Various Voices 2018 in Munich.

• 2012

  Celebrated 25th anniversary with a concert of old and new pieces.

• 2004

  Presented "Besetzt," a musical city tour through 1940s Berlin, twice.

• 2003

  Performed the 1960s revue "Musik ist Trumpf" in February.

• 2001

  Substantially involved in preparing and running the Various Voices festival in Berlin in May.

• 1997

  Tenth anniversary "Jubelkonzert" with a cross-section of previous programs.

• 1996

  Released the CD "Farewell" on the occasion of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's move to Sweden.

• 1992

  Began appearing at GALA festivals of American gay and lesbian choirs (Denver, Tampa, San José).

• 1991

  Contacts with the USA established when choirs from Seattle, Los Angeles and New York visited Berlin.

• 1989

  Recognized as a non-profit organization.

• 1988

  Hosted the 4th European gay-lesbian choir festival in May.

• 1987

  Founded in February as the first gay men's choir in Berlin; first public appearance in December.

• Planned 40th anniversary concerts at the ufa-Fabrik in Berlin.

Berlin's first and long-running gay men's choir, combining musical excellence with LGBTQ+ community building and prejudice reduction.

• Advent concert "Schöne Bescherung"

  Traditional queer choral and instrumental concert at Zwölf-Apostel-Kirche, Berlin; reached its 20th edition.

• 40th anniversary concerts (2027)

  Two evening performances at the ufa-Fabrik featuring long-unheard gems from four decades and new songs.

• CD "Farewell" (1996)

  CD released on the occasion of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's move to Sweden; includes a song sung together with her and a piece of the choir's own.

• Musical "Unter Brüdern"

  A musical performed after the 1997 anniversary concert.

• "Musik ist Trumpf" (2003)

  A 1960s revue.

• "Besetzt" (2004)

  A musical city tour through the four occupation sectors of 1940s Berlin.

• "Ich wär' so gern ein Sexappeal"

  A homage to composer Friedrich Hollaender.

• "Im Zauberwald"

  A program interpreting well-known fairy tales in a new way.

• Bruno Balz program

  A program dedicated to lyricist and Schlager writer Bruno Balz.

• "Willkommen in Xanadu"

  A program featuring hits by gay icons such as Madonna, Kylie Minogue and George Michael.

• "Let's do it" (2018)

  A program dedicated to gay composer Cole Porter.

• Carmina Burana performance

  Rehearsed with other gay-lesbian ensembles; performed open-air at Various Voices 2018 in Munich and at the Berlin University of the Arts concert hall.

1. 1MÄNNER-MINNE · Schwuler Männerchor Berlinmaenner-minne.de
2. 2Männer-Minne – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Männer-Minne – Wikidatawikidata.org