Academic Grand Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” |

Grand Choir «Masters of Choral Singing»

Academic Bolshoi Choir “Masters of Choral Singing” of the Russian State Musical Television and Radio Center

The Academic Bolshoi Choir was created in 1928, its organizer and first artistic director was the outstanding master of choral art A. V. Sveshnikov. At different times, the group was led by such remarkable musicians as N. S. Golovanov, I. M. Kuvykin, K. B. Ptitsa, L. V. Ermakova.

In 2005, the People’s Artist of Russia, Professor Lev Kontorovich. Under his leadership, the renewed composition of the choir successfully continues the traditions laid down by its predecessors. The name itself – “Masters of Choral Singing” – predetermined the professionalism, high performance level and versatility of the team, where each artist can act as a member of the choir and as a soloist.

Over the years of its existence, the choir has performed more than 5000 works – operas, oratorios, cantatas by Russian and foreign composers, a’cappella works, folk songs, sacred music. Many of them made up the “golden fund” of domestic sound recording, received recognition abroad (Grand Prix of the recording competition in Paris, “Golden Medal” in Valencia). The Bolshoi Choir performed for the first time many choral works by S. Prokofiev, D. Shostakovich, R. Shchedrin, A. Khachaturian, O. Taktakishvili, V. Agafonnikov, Yu. Evgrafov and other Russian composers.

Such outstanding conductors as Evgeny Svetlanov, Mstislav Rostropovich, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Fedoseev, Vladimir Spivakov, Dmitry Kitaenko, Vladimir Yurovsky, Helmut Rilling, Alberto Zedda, Ennio Morricone, Christoph Eschenbach have worked with the Bolshoi Choir at various times; singers Irina Arkhipova, Evgeny Nesterenko, Zurab Sotkilava, Elena Obraztsova, Dmitry Hvorostovsky, Vasily Ladyuk, Nikolai Gedda, Roberto Alagna, Angela Georgiou and many others.

In 2008 and 2012, the Academic Bolshoi Choir took part in the inauguration ceremonies of the Presidents of the Russian Federation Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

The Academic Bolshoi Choir was applauded in the largest concert halls of Russian cities and abroad: in Italy, France, Germany, Israel, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Indonesia and other countries. including the Urals, Siberia and the Far East.

Source: Moscow Philharmonic website