|
Basic information
The boys choir "Pueri gaudentes" has its home at the Elementary
Music School in Prague 7 and unites about 200 singers, both children
and ”nearly grown-ups”, in four departments. It is one of four boys
choirs existing in the Czech Republic. The choirmaster has been
Zdena Součková since the establishment of the choir in 1990.
The name "Pueri gaudentes" is derived from the basic name of the
choir "Radost" ("Joy"). In translation it means Joyous Boys. The
members of the choir sing with joy and they want to bring joy in
their singing to their listeners.
The choir consists of four departments. The concert department
comprises fifty 11-14 year old boys and thirty 15-19 year old young
men. One hundred and ten 7 - 12 year old boys sing in three
preparatory departments. These preparatory departments aim at
teaching the boys the basics of singing and music theory and to
prepare them for singing in the concert department. The boys come to
rehearsals from all over Prague, some even from the vicinity of
Prague. Foto: koncert s Evou Kriz-Lifkovou v Klatovech, srpen 1998
According to the tradition even the boys with breaking voices remain
in the choir, although they cannot sing at concerts and their
singing abilities are limited for some time. At this critical stage
it is very important that the boys keep in touch with the choir and
remain its part, influenced by its cultural environment. They attend
rehearsals, listen, train and improve their professional knowledge.
After their voices have changed, they become legitimate members of
the men’s part of the choir. Almost all the young men in the choir
have been members of its boys' departments.
The boys participate in many interesting activities including tours
abroad. While traveling abroad, in Europe as well as overseas, the
boys want to present their singing at the concerts as well as deepen
the friendship and cultural ties with their hosts and get to know as
much as possible of the host country's natural beauties, places of
interest and culture.
"Pueri gaudentes" have also participated in all performances of the
opera Carmen in the State Opera in Prague. This cooperation has been
later extended to other operas - Turandot, Boris Godunov, Bubu from
Montparnass and The Czech Christmas Mass. The members of the choir
also perform with leading Czech singers and music ensembles. The
boys also record various programmes for radio and television. State
Opera House in Prague: G. Bizet: CarmenThe choir cooperates with the
composers Pavel Jurkovič and Emil Hradecký, who dedicated several of
their music compositions to the choir.
The repertoire of the choir is very varied. It does not limit itself
to only certain kind of music. It comprises both pieces only for
boys' voices (soprano and alto) and pieces for for men’s choir
(tenor and bass) and mixed choir repertoire. The choirmaster aims at
acquainting the boys with compositions of various composers, music
periods and styles. They are religious and secular pieces, folk
songs of many nations in different arrangements, all kinds of choral
music from Gregorian chant through medieval songs and polyphony to
the music of contemporary composers. Most members of the choir play
music instruments and they provide their own instrumental
accompaniment.
Although "Pueri gaudentes" are today considered the best boys' choir
in Prague, its choirmaster as well as its members incessantly strive
to improve their singing performance in ever more difficult
repertoire.
History
The chorus "Pueri gaudentes" was set up in September 1990 by its
choirmaster Zdena Součková in response to the growing interest of
both boys and their parents in choir singing. Thanks to everybody's
concern, good will and perseverance, the initial obstacles, doubts
and mistrust were overcome. Mainly, the tenacity and unyielding work
of the conductor Zdena Součková proved that the idea of the choir
was meaningful and legitimate. Eight years of hard work bore its
fruit. The choir improved its quality and demonstrated it at
numerous concerts in the Czech Republic and also on concert tours
abroad in Italy, Austria, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands,
Sweden, Norway, Japan, Greece and Spain.
Its international debut took place in 1993. The destination of the
first tour was Sicily. The choir got to know typical Italian
temperament at many of its concerts. This temperament even enhanced
the surprising success of the individual performances. Two years
later the choir took part in the first international competition in
its history. The boys got to the semi-finals at the children choir
festival in February 1995 in Nantes. A year later "Pueri guadentes"
brought home their first award. They won the first prize in Neerpelt
(May 1996, Belgium) in the independent category of boys choirs. The
Christmas tour to the Netherlands closed their successful year. In
July 1997 the choir participated in another competition of boys
choirs. This time it was in Lecca (Italy). Even then the chorus did
not leave without a prize, it took the second place in the
competition. In July 1998 "Pueri guadentes" undertook a two week
tour to Norway and Sweden. The year 1999 meant the biggest challenge
for the chorus - a tour to Japan. But the boys managed even this
difficult task. After seventeen days thirty-five members of the
chorus came home victorious, crowned with many successes. In July
2000 the choir went on tour to Greece. The boys brought silver medal
from the international competition of choir singing from Preveza.
The successful year was concluded by Christmas tour to Spain. Tours
abroad have not finished with that, however. In 2001 Pueri gaudentes
took part in an international festival in Poznan, Poland, and in
2002 they toured in Spain, Austria and Italy. For 2003 they prepared
a special tour, “a tour of good will II“ to Japan. The Pueri men’s
choir succeeded at the “Prague days of Choir singing” – they got the
first prize. In 2004 Pueri gaudentes set out to the “Northern tour”
visiting Germany, Poland, Sweden, Finland Esthonia, Latvia and
Lithuania. And – last but not least – the men’s choir won silver at
the international competition in German Lindenholzhausen.
"Pueri gaudentes" also cooperate on recording CDs.. They produced
their first profile CD in spring 1996. In 1997 they cooperated on
publishing a CD called "Spirituals and Gospels" together with the
mezzo-soprano singer Eva Kriz-Lifková. In 1998 they recorded a CD
dedicated to G. Fauré (Requiem, Pavana) together with the Pardubice
Chamber Philharmonic and the conductor Bostock Douglas. In 1999 they
offered their listeners Christmas CD "Sem,sem,sem pastýři" ("Here,
Here, Here Shepherds"). The CD "10 Years of Pueri gaudentes" was
part of the celebrations of the choir’s 10th anniversary. In 2002
the choir cooperated in recording Pohádky z rozkvetlé louky a
stříbrné tůňky (Fairy Tales from the Meadow of Flowers and the
Silver Pool) with the Czech actors T.MedvState Opera House Prague:
Czech Christmas Massecká and P.Soukup. The last CD published so far
is Zkouška na koncert (Concert Rehearsal) recorded in 2003. Besides
all these CDs, the choir cooperated on many other projects with
well-known Czech artists. It also records various programmes for
radio and television.
Since 1994 the boys have taken part in all performances of George
Bizet's opera Carmen in the State Opera in Prague. This cooperation
has been extended later to other operas: Turandot, Boris Godunov
(1996-1998), Bubu from Montparnass (1999), The Czech Christmas Mass
(since 1998), Dorian Gray (2000), and The Physics (2000), The Magic
Flute (2002). The members of the choir performed together with the
famous Czech music ensembles and singers for example Lloyd Webber's
Requiem or participated in the famous project of Bernstein's Mass at
The Prague Castle. The chorus also cooperates with the composer
Pavel Jurkovič who dedicated it a few of his own music compositions.
The choir also takes part in various beneficent events. In 2002 the
boys sang for the movement “Na vlastních nohou” (“On One’s Own
Legs”), in 2003 at the concert “Voices for Hospices” and in 2005
Pueri gaudentes co-organized the beneficent concert “Kdo může,
pomůže” (“Anyone can help”) to help the victims of the destructive
tsunami in Eastern Asia.
|
