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| Chanticleer (choir) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chanticleer |
| Origin | San Francisco, California |
| Genres | Classical, a cappella, Renaissance, Contemporary |
| Years active | 1978–present |
Chanticleer (choir) is an American professional male vocal ensemble founded in San Francisco that specializes in a cappella performance spanning Renaissance polyphony, American hymnody, contemporary composition, and popular song arrangements. The ensemble has collaborated with leading composers, conductors, orchestras, and cultural institutions, and maintains an international presence through recordings, tours, residencies, and educational programs.
Chanticleer was founded in 1978 in San Francisco by Louis Botto and initially drew repertoire from Gregorian chant, Renaissance music, and contemporary commissions. Early seasons featured collaborations with ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony and guest conductors like Seiji Ozawa and Claudio Abbado, while participating in festivals including the Mostly Mozart Festival and the Salzburg Festival. The group garnered attention through performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and through residencies at institutions like Yale University and Stanford University. Over decades, artistic leadership evolved through artistic directors and guest conductors associated with ensembles including The King's Singers, Tallis Scholars, and vocal pedagogues linked to Eastman School of Music and Juilliard School.
Chanticleer is composed of a roster of professional singers recruited from conservatories such as Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, Peabody Institute, and University of Southern California. Membership historically includes tenors, baritones, and basses who perform as a chamber choir and occasionally as soloists; singers have held positions with institutions like Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and ensembles such as American Bach Soloists and Pacific Chorale. Administrative and artistic governance has involved boards and executive directors with ties to Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts, Lincoln Center, Music Academy of the West, and philanthropic partners like National Endowment for the Arts and San Francisco Arts Commission.
Chanticleer's repertoire ranges from pre‑Reformation polyphony by composers such as Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Orlando di Lasso to contemporary works by Esa-Pekka Salonen, Steve Reich, Eric Whitacre, Caroline Shaw, and Paul McCartney commissions. The ensemble performs arrangements of American spirituals and hymns associated with William Billings, Stephen Foster, and Samuel Barber, as well as art song and crossover material tied to artists like Cole Porter, George Gershwin, The Beatles, and Paul Simon. Stylistically, Chanticleer blends techniques derived from the English choral tradition, the French choral school, and American collegiate choral practices exemplified by Ithaca College choirs and the University of North Texas ensembles, favoring clarity of diction, tuned homophony, and balanced polyphony.
Chanticleer’s discography includes award-winning albums released on labels associated with Warner Classics, RCA Victor, Deutsche Grammophon, and Telarc, featuring titles that span sacred Renaissance programs, holiday albums, and contemporary commissions. Notable recordings have drawn repertoire from the catalogs of Palestrina, Monteverdi, and modern composers such as John Adams and Arvo Pärt, and collaborations with soloists and orchestras like the San Francisco Symphony and conductors tied to Leonard Bernstein and Michael Tilson Thomas. Several albums appeared on the Billboard charts and in catalogues curated by institutions like the Library of Congress and Smithsonian Folkways.
Chanticleer has toured extensively across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, appearing at festivals including the Aix-en-Provence Festival, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the Lucerne Festival. Notable engagements include multiple seasons at Carnegie Hall, a residency at Wigmore Hall, performances at Notre-Dame de Paris, and collaborations with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble has been invited to cultural diplomacy events associated with the United States Department of State and performed at ceremonies attended by dignitaries from institutions like the United Nations and cultural venues such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Chanticleer has received prestigious accolades including Grammy Awards and nominations in categories for choral performance, recordings cited by the New York Times critics, and honors from organizations like the American Choral Directors Association, National Endowment for the Arts, and regional arts councils including the San Francisco Arts Commission. The ensemble has been featured in critical surveys alongside ensembles like The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen, and King's Singers, and recognized by publications such as Gramophone, BBC Music Magazine, and The Guardian for contributions to choral music.
Chanticleer maintains educational initiatives including masterclasses and residencies at conservatories and universities such as Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Berklee College of Music, and University of California, Berkeley, and partners with youth choirs and community ensembles like Youth Choirs of San Francisco and programs modeled after El Sistema. The ensemble also commissions contemporary composers connected to institutions like New Music USA and works with organizations such as American Composer's Forum to support emerging composers, engaging in workshops tied to festivals like Tanglewood and conferences hosted by the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Category:American choirs Category:A cappella