Cantores Minores
The Helsinki Cathedral Boys Choir Cantores Minores is a Finnish boys' choir at Helsinki Cathedral . It was founded in 1952 by Tarmo Nuotio and Ruth-Esther Hillilä . Since the beginning of 2005 the choir has been led by Hannu Norjanen , a former Cantores Minores choir boy. Annual performances of major works by Bach as well as the old and new a cappella repertoire are part of the musical education of every choir generation.
history
Cantores Minores was founded in 1952 to continue the church boy choir tradition in Finland. With the help of the founders Tarmo Nuotio and Ruth-Ester Hillilä's enthusiasm, the choir had the wind on its back from the start. In the following year the number of choir members had risen to over a hundred. Peter Lacovich from Austria , the former trainer and director of the Vienna Boys' Choir , was appointed director. After he devoted himself to other obligations after almost 10 years of activity (1954–1962), Prof. Heinz Hofmann from Germany , also a former singer of the Zwickau Boys Choir of St. Katherina, was appointed director. Under his enthusiastic and dynamic direction for 25 years (1962–1987), the foundations of the forms for training and concerts by Cantores Minores were laid down, and the choir then achieved world fame. Under the direction of the following choir director, Prof. Christian Hauschild (1987–2004), himself a former boy of the Dresden Kreuzchor , the number of major works to be performed had grown in particular; training has discovered new dimensions; the choir has also undertaken further concert tours more often and geographically. During the period of Hannu Norjanen, the musical level of the choir has increased and especially the a cappella repertoire has become more varied.
description
Every year around 40 7-11 year old boys are accepted into the music school of the Cantores Minores Chores through entrance examinations. After at least one year of study and a successfully passed final exam, they advance in his A-choir with over a hundred singers. Through the cooperation with the school system in Helsinki, which began in 1996, we endeavor to expand the musical education in the direction of its role models, the Kreuzchor and St. Thomas's Choir , in order to increase the artistic level of the choir. From the circle of choir members, many experts have developed into professional musicians over the years.
repertoire
Cantores Minores leads on Good Friday each year, alternately either Matthew - or St. John Passion by JS Bach and before Christmas, the Christmas Oratorio on. Mass in B minor motets are also an integral part of the regular program. The German Requiem by Brahms and the masses by Mozart , Haydn and Beethoven are repeatedly performed together with well-known orchestral musicians. Church choral music from the 12th to the 21st century is performed by European and especially Finnish composers at numerous a cappella concerts at home and abroad.
Conductor of the choir
- 1952–1954 Ruth Ester Hillilä
- 1954-1958 Peter Lacovich
- 1959–1960 Harald Andersén
- 1960–1962 Peter Lacovich
- 1962–1987 Heinz Hofmann
- 1987–2004 Christian Hauschild
- 2005– Hannu Norjanen
Web links
- official homepage (Finnish, English)