I just discovered this recording and fell head over heels in love with Georg Biller. I wanted to write to him to tell him I can’t stop watching this joy-filled performance. Then I discovered he is gone. And I’ve been grieving that even though I never met him.
Is he really gone?! I knew he was suffering greatly from physical ailments for a long time but had no idea he had departed. I was present in the Thomaskirche for this performance of the B Minor Mass in 2000, so am doubly saddened to hear this.
To day, Christoph Biller is for everyone of us a legend. He is no more but his legacy remains and talks about what he loved and cherished. He was an extraordinary man and musician with a deep understanding of Bach and music generally. We all who have known him, we will remember him and respect his talent.
Christoph Biller is unique. He was always like this. Extraordinary. I know him since I was student in Halle / Saale at the church music school (Kirchenmusikschule) where I perfected my Organ interpretation of romantic music by Berliner Dom Organist Michael Pohl.
Ich habe in letzter Zeit das Web leer geguckt, was Herrn Biller und/oder die Thomaner angeht, sein Buch gelesen, ... (und vereinzelt ebenso andere Chorauftritte/Dokus angeschaut). Leider bin und bleibe ich Außenstehender (in multipler Hinsicht und "nicht-Profi-Musiker"). Aber ich meine, die Einzigartigkeit und vor allem das erlebbare Wirken von Herrn Biller hören, spüren und bestätigen zu können! Irgendwie heben sich die Thomanerchor-Aufnahmen mit/unter Herrn Biller lebendig und 'perfekt' ab, scheint es mir ... Wie auch immer: ich habe (aufgrund des Wenigen, was ich über ihn mitbekommen habe) höchsten Respekt vor ihm und seinem Wirken!
