Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus

Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus
Name	Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus
Origin	New York City
Founded	1962
Genre	Opera, Choral
Members	Children
Chief conductor	Joseph Colaneri
Affiliation	Metropolitan Opera

Metropolitan Opera Children's Chorus is the treble choir affiliated with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. The ensemble provides boys and girls with preparatory experience for large-scale productions at the Metropolitan Opera House, and it participates in performances, tours, and recordings associated with institutions such as the New York Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, and the Lincoln Center complex. The Chorus intersects with cultural organizations including the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the Metropolitan Opera National Council, and major festivals like the Mostly Mozart Festival.

History

The Chorus was established in 1962 during the tenure of Rudolf Bing as part of the Metropolitan's efforts to expand outreach to young singers and to support stagings by conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Leopold Stokowski, and George Szell. Early administrations collaborated with music directors including Sir Georg Solti, James Levine, and Christoph von Dohnányi on repertory that ranged from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to Giacomo Puccini. During the 1970s and 1980s the Chorus appeared in productions mounted by directors like Franco Zeffirelli and Jean-Pierre Ponnelle, and it participated in tours that connected the Metropolitan with venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and international stages during exchanges with institutions like the Royal Opera House and the Teatro alla Scala. Administrative milestones included partnerships with the Metropolitan Opera Guild and educational initiatives inspired by programs at the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music.

Organization and Leadership

The Chorus operates under the administrative umbrella of the Metropolitan Opera and the artistic direction of the Met's music staff, working with artistic administrators, stage directors, and chorus masters affiliated with companies such as the New York City Opera and the San Francisco Opera. Leadership has included chorus masters and pedagogues trained at conservatories like Curtis Institute of Music and institutions such as the Royal College of Music. Collaborative figures have included conductors from the New York Philharmonic, guest directors from the Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and music educators from the Lincoln Center Education department. Governance involves coordination with unions and artist management entities including American Federation of Musicians and production teams from the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Auditions and Membership

Auditions are open to children typically aged 7–14 and are held in venues across New York City boroughs and partner schools in regions served by the Met. Prospective members audition for vocal range, musicianship, and language skills, often performing repertoire drawn from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Carl Orff, and contemporary composers. Membership requires commitments to rehearsal schedules at Metropolitan facilities near Lincoln Center and participation in staging rehearsals with directors who have worked for companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, and the Bavarian State Opera. The Chorus recruits through collaborations with public schools in the New York City Department of Education, conservatories like Juilliard Pre-College, and community organizations including the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Repertoire and Performances

The Chorus regularly performs in Metropolitan productions of operas by composers such as Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, Benjamin Britten, and Igor Stravinsky. Signature appearances include children’s choruses in works like Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Verdi's Don Carlo, as well as contemporary commissions presented in collaboration with festivals like the Mostly Mozart Festival and venues such as Carnegie Hall. Guest engagements have paired the ensemble with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestra of St. Luke's, and the American Symphony Orchestra, and with choral groups like the Paulist Choristers and ensembles from the New York Choral Society.

Training and Education Programs

Training emphasizes vocal technique, diction in languages including Italian, German, and French, stagecraft, and musicianship, with faculty drawn from conservatories such as Curtis Institute of Music and teachers who have worked at the Juilliard School. Educational collaborations include masterclasses with conductors from the New York Philharmonic, language coaching from specialists affiliated with departments at Columbia University, and stage movement workshops led by directors connected to the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House. The Chorus’s pedagogy aligns with outreach programs run by the Metropolitan Opera Guild and partnerships with schools in the New York City Department of Education.

Recordings and Media Appearances

The Chorus has appeared on Metropolitan Opera DVDs and commercial recordings alongside conductors such as James Levine, Valery Gergiev, and Gianandrea Noseda, released on labels associated with the Met and with companies like Deutsche Grammophon and Sony Classical. Media appearances include televised broadcasts on PBS, radio features on WQXR-FM, and streaming presentations through the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series that reaches venues including the Brooklyn Academy of Music and international cinemas. The ensemble has contributed to soundtracks and recordings of productions that toured with the Metropolitan Opera and partner houses like the Royal Opera House.

Notable Alumni and Collaborations

Alumni have proceeded to careers with institutions such as the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, the San Francisco Opera, and academies including the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. Collaborators over the years have included conductors Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Muti, and Plácido Domingo, directors Peter Gelb, Franco Zeffirelli, and institutions like the Metropolitan Opera Guild, the New York Philharmonic, and the Royal Opera House. The Chorus’s network extends to festivals including the Mostly Mozart Festival and to educational partners such as Lincoln Center Education and the New York City Department of Education.

Category:Choirs in New York City Category:Children's choruses Category:Metropolitan Opera