Patron of The Rudolf Kempe Society

I am very flattered and delighted to be Patron of the Rudolf Kempe Society as successor to the late Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. I admire Cordula Kempe so much and think the work that she does is tremendous.

Do come to her wonderful programmes of word and music, Songs of Apollo - in which I have taken part myself and thoroughly enjoyed! And don’t miss the concerts given by the extremely talented musicians of the Rudolf Kempe International Young Artists Platform!

Also given at the uniquely congenial atmosphere of the KEMPE STUDIO at THE MUSES in Stratford, the Society's new series of creative and inspiring Public Master Classes awaits you, with an international line-up of great artists of today teaching the great artists of tomorrow!

Dame Judi Dench, Patron of The Rudolf Kempe Society
Dame Judy Dench

An essential part of the Society’s educational work is the critical evaluation of Rudolf Kempe’s artistic legacy. In 2008, his complete archive has been transferred from Munich to the Society’s UK base in Stratford-upon-Avon. It includes his comprehensive collection of personally marked scores reflecting his repertoire of well over 100 operas and some 700 symphonic works, as well as solo keyboard music – organ, harpsichord and piano – and chamber music; also a substantial range of literature on music and related fields.

Kempe’s numerous gramophone, radio and television recordings - most of them live and as yet unpublished – are spanning four decades of the twentieth century’s musical history. The archive is available for individual studies as well as workshop sessions, screenings and discussions given for audiences of professionals as well as music lovers. These events are usually chaired by distinguished critics, academics and fellow artists of Rudolf Kempe.