À propos du chœur

In its concerts, the Gaudeamus Choir Brno strives to present dramaturgically innovative projects, through which it introduces both lesser-known and well-known choral works from the past, with a particular focus on promoting contemporary Czech and foreign choral compositions. Notable projects include, for example, the concert "Folk Ballads and Nocturnes" featuring works by L. Janáček, V. Novák, and P. Eben, organised as part of the Year of Czech Music 2014, or the "Concert of Works by Contemporary Brno Composers" (2016), which, alongside compositions by E. Zámečník, F. G. Emmert, P. Řezníček, and P. Sýkora, also featured several premieres by representatives of the young Brno composers' generation (J. Najvar, J. Valušek). The "Lenten and Easter Sacred Compositions" by J. D. Zelenka, F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, P. Česnokov, P. Łukaszewski, A. Pärt, P. Špilák, U. Sisask, and J. Runestad formed the dramaturgical theme of the concert "From Darkness to Light – Death and Resurrection" (2017). In the concert "Myths and Legends" (2019), Gaudeamus presented mythologically inspired works by contemporary Scandinavian composers P. Vasks, V. Tormis, J. Sandström, P. Kostiainen, as well as Czech authors P. Eben and P. Sýkora. The "Come away, sweet love!" concert (2023) featured a performance of love madrigals from the Renaissance (T. Greaves, J. Bennet, J. Farmer) and contemporary works (B. Martinů, P. Řezníček, P. Eben, M. Lauridsen), while the "Under the Starry Sky" concert (2024) was filled with both classical and contemporary choral works inspired by the atmosphere of night (B. Smetana, L. Janáček, J. Kvapil, J. Brahms, E. Elgar, V. Tormis, E. Whitacre, E. Ešenvalds). The "Folk Mosaic" (2025), composed of arrangements of folk songs from Bohemia, Moravia, and other parts of Europe (L. Janáček, A. Dvořák, Z. Lukáš, B. Bartók, V. Tormis, J. Rutter, H. Havrylets, M. Rakov), was performed by Gaudeamus both at its concert in Brno and as part of a tour to Prešov in Slovakia.

 

Together with members of the Janáček Quartet, Gaudeamus performed the chamber cantata "Mikeš from the Mountains" by B. Martinů (2017), and that same year, as part of the Brno Organ Festival, the choir, accompanied by Italian organist E. M. Fagiani, sang the "Unfinished Mass" in E-flat major by L. Janáček. With cellist Štěpán Filípek, the choir prepared several contemporary compositions for mixed choir and solo cello (K. Nystedt: "Stabat Mater", G. Grigorjeva: "Molitva"), which were performed at the 30th International Contemporary Art Festival FORFEST in Kroměříž (2019) and the Easter Concert in Brno (2022). Gaudeamus has also presented its a cappella repertoire at joint concerts with the Juniata College Concert Choir from the USA (2016), the Primavera Children's Choir (2017), the Frizzante Ensemble (2017, 2024), the Czech Choral Conductors' Choir (2024), and the mixed choir Punkt from Prague (2025). The choir has also participated in numerous charity concerts, including those for Ukraine (2022), Veterans' Day (2023), and the Jesenice region (2024).

 

Throughout its existence, the Gaudeamus Choir Brno has premiered many choral compositions, both Czech and international. Among its most significant achievements is the world premiere of the cantata "Ilena" by Brno composer Vítězslava Kaprálová (2007), which Gaudeamus performed in collaboration with the Brno Philharmonic and the Brno Academic Choir. In 2013, the choir participated in the premiere of the chamber cantata "Tvé jméno květná dlaň" by composer František Gregor Emmert, which was performed as part of the subscription series of the Brno Philharmonic in collaboration with soloists, the Kantiléna children's choir, members of the Czech Virtuosi orchestra, and conductor Jakub Klecker. Under the accompaniment of Czech Virtuosi and conducted by Robert Kružík, the choir performed the world premiere of "Missa Mendeliana" by composer Jiří F. Damian as part of the 2022 Mendel Festival. The mass was part of a celebratory service for the 200th anniversary of Johann Gregor Mendel's birth and was broadcast and recorded by Czech Television (the recording can be viewed on ČT’s iVysílání). At the 2022 International Silberbauer Music Festival in Podyjí, Gaudeamus premiered the composition "O Pater III" for oboe and mixed choir by Czech composer Tomáš Pálka, and in 2023, together with the Thayatal Chamber Orchestra and under the baton of conductor Sébastien Bagnoud, performed the orchestral version of "Missa brevis" by Lukáš Sommer for the first time.

 

Composers such as Jaromír Hnilička (Blues de amus, premiered 2004), František G. Emmert (Cantate Domino, premiered 2014), Jiří Najvar (the choral cycle "Fiat lux", premiered 2016), and Jan Valušek (Prosby ke svatému Václavu, premiered 2018) have dedicated their compositions to the Gaudeamus Choir.

 

In the Czech premieres, Gaudeamus has presented works such as "Molitva" for cello and mixed choir by contemporary Estonian composer Galina Grigorjeva, "Alleluia" by American contemporary composer Jake Runestad, as well as works by Swedish composers Jan Sandström ("Biegga luohte") and Susanne Rosenberg ("Pust") and the Estonian composer Veljo Tormis ("Sinikan laulu").

 

An important part of the Gaudeamus Choir Brno's repertoire includes cantata and oratorio works. In 2004, the choir made a significant contribution to the cultural programme of the Year of Czech Music by performing three cantatas by Czech masters in one season: Leoš Janáček's "Glagolitic Mass" and "Our Father", and Antonín Dvořák's "Te Deum". In 2007, the choir continued this tradition with a performance of Dvořák's "Stabat Mater" in collaboration with leading Brno soloists, members of the National Theatre Brno Opera Choir, and the Czech Virtuosi Orchestra. That same year, Gaudeamus participated in a performance of Janáček's "Glagolitic Mass" in London under the direction of Lubomír Mátl. In 2011, 2012, and 2016, the choir participated in the Liszt Week in Esztergom, Hungary, where, accompanied by the St. Matthias Church Orchestra in Budapest (conducted by László Tardy), they performed Liszt's "Psalm 13" and his "Missa solennis". In 2014, Gaudeamus took part in a performance of Mozart's "Requiem" at St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Brno under the direction of Jaroslav Kyzlink, and in 2016, they performed Borodin's "Polovtsian Dances" at the Mozart's Children Festival, accompanied by the Brno Philharmonic under the baton of Stanislav Vavřínek.

 

Since 2015, the choir has regularly collaborated with conductor Robert Kružík, under whose guidance they have studied works such as Gabriel Fauré’s "Requiem" (2015), W. A. Mozart’s "Vesperae solennes de confessore" (2016), Antonín Dvořák’s "Mass in D major "Lužanská"" (2019), Jiří F. Damian’s "Missa Mendeliana" (2022), Bedřich Smetana’s "Czech Song", and Alfred Schnittke’s 4th Symphony (2024). In 2023, the choir participated in the revival premiere of František Musil's "Stabat Mater" with other choirs and the Brno Philharmonic, conducted by Robert Kružík, as part of the Easter Festival of Sacred Music in Brno (the recording is available on the Czech Radio Vltava website). Recently, the choir had the opportunity to perform at the prestigious "Janáček Brno International Opera and Music Festival 2024", accompanied by the Opera Diversa Ensemble, conducted by Tomáš Krejčí (performing B. Martinů's "Field Mass" and P. Haas's "Psalm 29"), as well as at the Lednice-Valtice Music Festival, where, in collaboration with the Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava and conductor Valentin Uryupin, they performed Beethoven's 9th Symphony (2024).

 

The concert activities of Gaudeamus also include collaborations with the Tišnov Chamber Orchestra and conductor Tomáš Křemen (e.g. W. A. Mozart: Requiem, 2021), with the Thayatal Chamber Orchestra and Spanish-Czech conductor Sébastien Bagnoud (Franz Schubert: Mass No. 2 in G major, 2023), with the Military Band Olomouc conducted by Captain Martin Procházka (B. Martinů: Field Mass, 2023), with the Moravian Symphony Orchestra conducted by Tomáš Krejčí (B. Martinů: Field Mass, The Mountain of Three Lights, 2025), and with the Jaroslav Kocian Chamber Orchestra and conductor Bohuslav Mimra (W. A. Mozart: Requiem, 2025).

 

Among other music projects, Gaudeamus’ participation in Václav Havel's play Prase deserves attention. The performance, directed by Vladimír Morávek, took place in the author’s presence as part of the Theatre World Brno festival in 2010. In May 2014, the choir was invited to the European Opera Days project in Kraków and Nowy Sącz (Poland), where they performed at the final gala concert alongside international opera soloists and the choir and orchestra of the Krakow Opera, conducted by Tomasz Tokarczyk. (Last modified on the 18th of September 2025.)