The Glinka Choral School is the oldest professional academic institution in Russia. It dates back to 1479 when the Sovereign’s Chorus of Singing Scribes (founded by Grand Duke Ivan III of Moscow in 1476) opened its Chorus of Young Choristers. The singers performed at the celebration of the Russian Empire’s new capital foundation.
The ensemble’s history has been closely tied to the history of St Petersburg even since.
Such prominent choral conductors as Alexander Svechnikov, Pallady Bogdanov, and Fyodor Kozlov have all previously stood at the helm of the Boys’ Chorus. From 1991 to 2007, Vladimir Begletsov was the Chorus’ Artistic Director. Since March 2014, he has not only been the head of the choral school, but has also returned to his work with the ensemble. The Boys’ Chorus took part in cultural programme events of the 32nd G8 summit held in St Petersburg (2006), and the 2014 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Sochi. As part of the United Children’s Chorus of Russia, the students of the school participated in the celebration of the Day of Russia in Simferopol, Yalta, and Sevastopol, as well as in a concert held at the Kremlin. In 2016, the Melodiya label released a recording of the Boys’ Chorus’ performance of Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Sixteen Songs for Children, Op 54.
The ensemble currently appears at the best concert venues of St Petersburg, including the Concert Hall of the Mariinsky Theatre, the St Petersburg State Capella, the Smolny Cathedral, the Saint Isaac’s Cathedral, and the Peter and Paul Cathedral.
The Chorus regularly takes part in various ceremonies, dedicated to the Diplomats’ Day at the Marble Palace and consular offices of various countries in Russia. The singers have appeared at the Berliner Philharmonie, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. They have also toured the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, the United States, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Italy, South Korea, China and many other countries around the world.
The Chorus’ artistes take part in many opera productions of the Mariinsky Theatre, the Mikhailovsky Theatre, and the Bolshoi Theatre.
Information for October 2018
