TWO FAMOUS CHORAL GROUPS IN COLLABORATION
Country: Norway
Conductor: Eirik Sørborg
Voicing: SATB
The Norwegian National Youth Choir and Nordic Voices are two of the most outstanding ensembles in Norway. In the 24 months leading up to the Symposium these two ensembles will meet and work together, under the directorship Eirik Sørborg, on a project that aims to create a strong musical dialogue and share of working together. For their WSCM2020 performances the choirs will intertwine both Norwegian choral music and music with indigenous elements from cultures such as Iran and Tibet.
The Norwegian National Youth Choir was founded in 1987 and consists of talented singers from all parts of Norway between 16 and 26 years of age. Its repertoire is broad and includes renaissance and romantic music, national and international folk music, and contemporary music. The choir has participated in several international choral festivals and competitions, winning numerous
prizes. In 2007 the choir won 1st Prize in the C. A. Seghizzi competition in Gorizia, Italy. In 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 the choir participated in the Europa Cantat festivals in Barcelona, Mainz, Utrecht, Torino, Pécs and Tallinn. In 2017 the Norwegian National Youth Choir was chosen amongst 8 youth choirs from around the world to participate in the International Youth Choir Festival, performing in the Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall in London.
Nordic Voices is a professional a cappella ensemble with six members who excel in artistic creativity, versatility and technical precision. Formed in 1996, the ensemble’s musical expression is vast and includes new works commissioned from leading Norwegian composers, the most sacred of religious texts and strongly secular music. Nordic Voices enjoys creating programmes that push boundaries. Lassus rubs shoulders with Ligeti and Norwegian contemporary composer Henrik Hellstenius, and Dufay with Huber and Nystedt. The ensemble possesses an indescribable audience appeal with concerts that are an unusual blend of sophisticated music-making and stylish performance. Together these singers have been making waves not only in Norway, but in places as far afield as South Africa, Taiwan, Japan, Bolivia and USA.
The two choirs say that one of their most important ambitions is to present Norwegian contemporary music in international arenas and for them, the World Symposium is one of the most important arenas that exists in the choral world.
Website: norgesungdomskor.no/english/
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