The name figure humaine embodies the idea of the choir as a collection of human faces, each unique, contributing their voices, musicality, and personalities to a unified musical whole. The choir’s rich and moving sound, distinguished by its homogeneity and diversity, has become a defining characteristic.

figure humaine performs vocal music at an exceptionally high standard, whether a cappella, with piano, or with orchestra. Its repertoire focuses on French and German music from the 19th to 21st centuries, particularly French melodies and German Lieder.

Now a central part of Stuttgart’s cultural life, the choir regularly appears in prestigious concerts and festivals across Germany and abroad, including the Ludwigsburg Schlossfestspiele, the Kirchenmusikfestival in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, and Les Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay.

Since 2018, it has collaborated with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2023, it performed Fauré’s Requiem with Stuttgart Opera and the Stuttgart Ballet in homage to the choreographer John Cranko.

The Choir is financially supported by the Baden-Württemberg Region and the City of Stuttgart.

Photographer: Peter Hartung

   figure humaine

The figure humaine Chamber Choir is a professional ensemble established in Stuttgart in 2016, following its earlier activities in Paris in the 2000s under the initiative of conductor Denis Rouger. While teaching at the Sorbonne University, Rouger created his own arrangements for five-part choir and piano to introduce his students to French and German songs for voice and piano. These arrangements have been widely acclaimed by audiences and adopted by other vocal ensembles.

Denis Rouger (source: figure humaine website)

The name figure humaine embodies the idea of the choir as a collection of human faces, each unique, contributing their voices, musicality, and personalities to a unified musical whole. The choir’s rich and moving sound, distinguished by its homogeneity and diversity, has become a defining characteristic.

figure humaine performs vocal music at an exceptionally high standard, whether a cappella, with piano, or with orchestra. Its repertoire focuses on French and German music from the 19th to 21st centuries, particularly French melodies and German Lieder.

Now a central part of Stuttgart’s cultural life, the choir regularly appears in prestigious concerts and festivals across Germany and abroad, including the Ludwigsburg Schlossfestspiele, the Kirchenmusikfestival in Schwäbisch-Gmünd, and Les Rencontres Musicales de Vézelay.

Since 2018, it has collaborated with the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, and in 2023, it performed Fauré’s Requiem with Stuttgart Opera and the Stuttgart Ballet in homage to the choreographer John Cranko.

The Choir is financially supported by the Baden-Württemberg Region and the City of Stuttgart.

Photographer: Peter Hartung