Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Ballet

 

 

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

ORTF Chorus, also known as the Chœur de l'ORTF, was a French classical music ensemble that was active from 1944 to 1974. The ensemble was founded by the French national broadcasting organization, Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française (ORTF), and was known for its exceptional performances of choral works from the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods. The ORTF Chorus was initially formed as a small group of singers who performed on the radio, but it quickly grew in size and reputation. The ensemble was led by several notable conductors over the years, including Marcel Couraud, Charles Bruck, and Georges Prêtre. These conductors helped to shape the sound and style of the ORTF Chorus, which was known for its precision, clarity, and expressive power. One of the highlights of the ORTF Chorus's early years was its performance of Bach's Mass in B Minor in 1950. This performance was conducted by Marcel Couraud and featured soloists such as Janine Micheau and Gérard Souzay. The performance was widely praised for its clarity and beauty, and it helped to establish the ORTF Chorus as one of the premier choral ensembles in France. In the 1960s, the ORTF Chorus continued to perform a wide range of choral works, including works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Verdi. The ensemble also collaborated with many of the leading orchestras and conductors of the time, including Herbert von Karajan, Leonard Bernstein, and Pierre Boulez. One of the highlights of this period was the ORTF Chorus's performance of Verdi's Requiem in 1967, which was conducted by Georges Prêtre and featured soloists such as Leontyne Price and Plácido Domingo. This performance was widely regarded as one of the greatest interpretations of the work ever recorded. In addition to its performances, the ORTF Chorus also received many awards and honors over the years. In 1955, the ensemble was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque for its recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. The ensemble also received numerous awards from the French government, including the Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. Despite its many achievements, the ORTF Chorus was disbanded in 1974 as part of a restructuring of the French broadcasting system. However, the legacy of the ensemble lives on through its many recordings, which continue to be celebrated for their beauty, precision, and expressive power. The ORTF Chorus remains one of the most important and influential choral ensembles in the history of classical music, and its contributions to the art form will be remembered for generations to come.

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