Under the direction and teaching of Fr. Ireneu Segarra (1953-1997), the Escolania became internationally recognized on a greater scale, recording many CDs and participating in festivals as well as touring many countries. Over the last few years, the Escolania has recorded the CDs O Vos Omnes, El Nostre Nadal, P. Miquel López, and a double CD of Responsoris de Setmana Santa by Narcís Casanoves.
The choir has been conducted by Mstislav Rostropovitch, Sir Neville Marriner, Salvador Mas, Michael Boder, Harry Bicket, Kirill Petrenko and Jordi Savall. Over these years the choir has undertaken tours of the United States (East Coast), Russia, Holland, Puerto Rico, Hungary, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Poland, as well as many concerts in Catalonia.
Over the course of its history, the Escolania de Montserrat has collaborated with a variety of orchestras such as Orquestra de Cadaqués, Musica Ducis Brabantiae from Holland, the Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya, Le Concert des Nations and Capella Reial de Catalunya, Orquestra de l’Acadèmia del Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Orquestra Nacional de Cambra d’Andorra.
The Escolania performed in the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona in the opera Pikovaia Dama by Piotr Tchaikovsky (2002-2003 and 2009-2010 seasons) and in the opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten (2004-2005 season), which received the Midem prize of 2006.
Nowadays, the Escolania is made up of more than 50 boys, ranging from 9 to 14 years old, who come from all across Catalonia. While they are studying at Montserrat, the boys cover the last years of Primary School and the first years of Secondary School, and also Music Studies. Each chorister plays two instruments: the piano and another instrument of their choice. All the students receive music lessons in class, play in the orchestra, and of course sing in the choir.
Most of the choristers, when they leave Montserrat, continue on with their musical studies, especially over the last decades, where some have developed into remarkable singers, instrumentalists and conductors.
Today, the aim of the Escolania – as in the past – is the daily participation in the prayer of the sanctuary, singing in front of a very large audience of pilgrims who come from all over the world. It is one of the objectives of the Escolania to spread sacred music, both of the composers of Montserrat and of internationally renowned composers as well.
Through their singing, the choristers (called escolans in Catalan) are messengers of peace and beauty. Using the universal language of music, they cross all kinds of boundaries and speak directly to the hearts of the people who listen to them sing.
US TOUR JUNE-JULY 2017
28 June, 2017, 7:00pm
Christ Church, Newton
Newton, NJ
Hosted by the Children’s Chorus of Sussex County
29 June, 2017, 4:00pm-5:00pm
St. Patrick’s Church
New York, NY
30 June, 2017, 6:00pm-7:00pm
The Cloisters (part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art)
New York, NY
2 July, 2017 (time TBD)
Mass at the Basilica of of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Washington, DC
As part of Classical Movements’ Serenade! Choral Festival
2 July, 2017, 8:00pm
Holy Trinity Church, Georgetown
Washington, DC
Combined with Latvian Voices, as part of Classical Movements’ Serenade! Choral Festival
3 July, 2017, 6:00pm
Kennedy Center
Washington, DC
Combined with all choirs of Classical Movements’ Serenade! Choral Festival
6 July, 2017, 7:30pm
Grace Cathedral
San Francisco, CA
Hosted by Pacific Boychoir Academy
8 July, 2017, 7:00pm
Pasadena Presbyterian Church
Pasadena, CA
Hosted by the Los Angeles Children’s Choir
Recordings:
Escolania de Montserrat: Nigra Sum (Pau Casals, 1876-1973)
Escolania de Montserrat: Ave Maria (Schubert-Vivancos)
Escolania de Montserrat: Virolai, Hymn to Our Lady of Montserrat (Josep Rodoreda, 1851-1922)
