SOLVGUTTENE GUTTEKOR OSLO

SILVER BOYS * The Norwegian Radio and Television Boys' Choir *


In 1940 the choir was founded by its director Torstein Grythe who is most likely the oldest and most experienced choir director of the present day. His work has been praised through the presentation of the highest awards.
In Norway almost every child knows the Silver Boys whose voices can be heard on many occasions: the national holiday, the annual Christmas concert on Norwegian television, the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, and last but not least, at the Royal Court.
Mention must be made of the fact that the choir does not only perform at its qwn concerts. Parts of the choir participate in other musical events like symphony concerts, performances of ecclesiastical music and at the Norwegian opera. They have furthermore participated in international choir competitions. In 1971 the "Silver Boys" were the winners of LET THE PEOPLE SING held in London by the BBC.
Not only in Norway and other scandinavian countries but also in the United States of America and most European countries to Moscow has the choir enthused its listeners in crowded churches with its extensive repertoire and brilliant performances.
Not without reason were the Silver Bosy the ones who sang the commemorative concert in Westminster Abbey which was given on the occasion of presenting the 50th Notwegian Christmas tree to England.
The choir has made a large selection of CD recordings and has recieved many silver and gold records. At the present time 60 boys and 24 men sing in the concrt choir. There are 25 - 30 trainees in the rising generation of musicians.

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BOYS' CHOIR ST. PETERSBURG

This rather young choir wich has risen like a comt in the musical sky is almost a counterpart of the Norwegians:
The Russian choir was first founded in 1991 by its director WADIM PTSCHOLKIN, who, only 27 years old can be counted among the youngest choir directors of the world. He is a former graduate of the GLINKA CHOR SCHOOL of the former royal court orchestra as well of the renowned ST.Petersburg Rimskij Korsakow Conseratory.
At the present time approximatley 400 boys are recieving musical training in his choir school. The concert choir with ca. 70 boys between the ages of 8 and 12 regulary sings in the most well-known concert halls in the cities and on the concert tours wich take them to Germany und to the Netherlands.
The choir is, like e.g. the Vienna Boys' Choir, made up of only boys' voices and has a good number of soloists with excellent voices. These voices dominate the CD being offered which, by the way, is the first in Russia on which a choir made up of only boys' voices sings.
The choir has already won the Grand Prix at the state Choir Competition in Russia five times. In the soloists'competition Dmitrij Bojtschenko was awarded the first prize and Dmitrij Dalin the second. The choir leader Wadim Ptscholkin won the prize for the best director.

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NIDAROSDOMES GUTTEKOR

The Nidaros Cathedral Boys Choir has been closely linked to the Cathedral School, across the street from the cathedral, for 900 years. The choir holds its regular rehearsals there. At the end of the 11th century Norwegian and English stone carvers came to Trondheim to build the Christ Church, the predecessor to the cathedral. In one of the chapels the stonecarvers' sons were instructed by the clergymen in Gregorian songs and liturgy, and the boys sang at masses, just like today's choir. This was the beginning of Trondheim Cathedral School and the tradition of a boys' choir in the cathedral. New classrooms were soon built near the church - probably where the school is situated today. The everyday life for the boys was dependent on the cathedral's financial situation. In the years after the Black Death Plague of 1349 conditions were so poor that the boys were allowed to beg. There could be long days; in addition to school the boys had to sing at prayers, weddings, funerals and services. After the high mass they even had to show up at school to be examined in the preaching of the day.

In 1806 the official bonds to the Cathedral School were broken. From now on the song duty was attended to by the Common Parish School, and from 1862 by the "Waisenhuset" school (Orphanage school) until 1905. For 22 years Trondheim had no boys' choir. But when planning the 900th anniversary of the death of St. Olav, chaplain Arne Fjellbu, later to become bishop, took the initiative to establish a new boys’ choir in Trondheim.

In the autumn of 1927 Nidaros Cathedral Boys' Choir was re-established under leadership of Erik Saltnessand, who was engaged as conductor, and now the choir was back at Trondheim Cathedral School.


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COR NACIONAL DELS PETITS CANTORS D'ANDORRA

The national choir, the "PETITS CANTORS D'ANDORRA" (the Young Singers of Andorra), is a recent creation dating back to November 1991.Youth, enthusiasm and musical training enabled the fifty or so choristers, aged from 8 to 25, to win a well-deserved reputation wich precedes them wherever they go to sing.

Its very existence is a sort of a miracle in this lovely country in the heart of the Pyrenees but it is a reality, of course, thanks to their daily application These children who come from various teaching centres with no allowance for a special timetable and so, their musical training comes on top of their school work.

They have been the musical ambassadors of the Principality of Andorra in various countries: France, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Monaco, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, Canada and the United States. They have twice performed at the seat of the United Nations, once on the 50th anniversary of its foundation, as well as at the seat of UNESCO in Paris. They have also been at the European Festival of Youth Choirs Basel-2001 (Switzerland)

In 1998, they have had the honour of accompanying various international figures of the singing world, including Montserrat Caballé, Montserrat Martí and the tenor Jaume Aragall, who has taken them under his patronage. In 2001 they have earnet the title of Choir of the Union, from the European Federation of Choirs of the Union, a dependent organisation of the European Parliament.

The purity of their voices, the musical rigour and the dynamism of their sound - qualities which have been noted by specialists - enable them to perform within a wide repertoire from classical polyphony to contemporary composers and from secular music to traditional folk songs.

The Young Singers of Andorra, as they are populary called, are conducted by Catherine METAYER and accompanied by Ignasi RIBAS TALENS on the organ.

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THE MOSCOW BOYS CHOIR

THE MOSCOW BOYS CHOIR is a careful blending of heavenly soprano voices with the rich resonance of bass and baritone sound that brings a distinct Russian flavor to the choral experience. Founded in 1957, this choral ensemble in among Russia’s most prestigious all-boy choirs. Under the direction of Mrs. Ninel Kamburg, who has guided the choir since 1966, the boys attend a special school, which provides both general education and musical training. Being selected as a member of the touring company of THE MOSCOW BOYS CHOIR is no easy feat. Hand-picked from over 400 students at their school in Moscow, these highly talented youngsters have the voices of angels and the discipline to match their talents. Their hard work has gained them a reputation for exellence, as they have toured successfully across Russia, Europe and the United States.

Their repertoire is varied and extensive, including works by contemporary Russian composers as well as Russian and European classics by Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Brahms and Rachmaninoff. They perform religious compositions by these and other composers as well as popular tunes and Russian folk songs. The accomplishments of the Choir are complemented by performances for Heads of State and Royalty. In 1988, they were featured in a command performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London for members of the Royal Family and in 1995, they were honored in performance with the Presidential Orchestra at the Kremlin in Moscow.

Mrs. Kamburg’s greatest wish is to travel the world with THE MOSCOW BOYS CHOIR and win hearts through her music.

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OTHER AFFILIATED LINKS:

LÜBECKER KNABENKANTOREI AN ST. MARIEN

 KAPELA KHLOPTCHIKAU

RONDEAU (WINDSBACHER BOYS CHOIR)

POZNANSKIE SLOWIKI