Artist description “LYRA” is a community of professional musicians. Most our members are students or postgraduates of Saint-Petersburg Conservatoire, working in different choirs of Saint-Petersburg. Some our singers are also soloists at musical theatres of our city. Though the members of our community represent different musical professions: choir conductors, opera singers, instrumentalists, music teachers – passion for ensemble singing unites all of us.The choir community “LYRA” includes about 25 people. However, due to different difficulties connected with the arrangement of concerts for such a numerous group, we usually perform in small groups of soloists consisting of 5-6 people, trying to keep the harmony of the choir sound.The main goal of “LYRA”`s activity is exploring and popularizing Russian choir music. The field of our creative interests is quite diverse. In a wide range of time we represent examples of Russian sacred music, starting from ancient songs of the Orthodox Church to works of little-known, but remarkable composers of the XVIII-XX centuries, as well as famous masters – D. Bortnjansky, P. Chesnokov, A. Gretchaninov, I. Stravinsky and others. Different folk songs of lyric, dancing and ritual nature are performed not only in famous composers` arrangements, but in our own ones` as well. Secular songs of Russian classics, such as S. Taneev, P. Tchaikovsky, S Rakhmaninov and others represent one more side of our creative activity. Our repertoire includes programs consisting of songs, romances and arias from operas composed by Russian as well as foreign composers.

Music Style Russian sacred and folk music a capella

Artist History As we consider our community was established in 1994, when we appeared with the first concerts. Since then geography of our performances has become pretty wide. We have performed not only in Russia, but also outside it. Thanks to the friends who help us arrange trips, we regularly give concerts in the countries of Western Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden). Through our performances, we want to introduce enormous musical heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as traditions of Russian folk music to all people taking great interest in Russia, its history and culture. Apart from our concert activity, we take part in ecumenical services at churches of different Christian confessions.Until Autumn 2000 we were called “NEVA”, that is why in the above mentioned countries we are rather known under this name. However, due to certain reasons we had to change this name. Now we are called “LYRA”. This step is not just a change of the name, but a new page of our history, which as we hope will open new horizons for us both in our creative activity and in development of our friendship connections. In the near future we are planning to give concerts not only in European countries, but also in the USA and Australia.

Instruments We sing a capella, without instruments

Albums 1) Russian Orthodox Church Music (vol. 1), 1998; 2) Russian Orthodox Church Music (vol. 2), 2000; 3) Kalinka (selection of the famous Russian folk songs), 2000

Location Stpetersburg, Russian Federation - Russia

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