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East River Concerts presents: Jitro 'Daybreak' Czech Girls Choir
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Saturday, June 25, 2022, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PMLocation: St John Nepomucene Church (66 & 1st)
„The Daybreak“Girls Choir from the Czech Republic
Jiri Skopal, Conductor
Michal Chrobak, Pianist
PROGRAM:
Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria / de Gloria /
Jan Campanus Vodňanský: Favete linquis singuli
Jacobus Gallus: Pueri concinite
Arvid Platpers: Ave Maria
Johannes Brahms: Regina coeli
Franc Biebl: Ave Maria
Jan Jirásek: Te Deum laudamus & Gloria
Petr Řezníček: Salve Regina
Henk Badings: Kyrie eleison
Petr Eben: Liturgické zpěvy
Randal Thompson: Alleluia
Ilja Hurník: Deo Gratias
ABOUT the Czech Girls Choir 'JITRO'
JITRO, meaning "Daybreak" in Czech, is more than just a concert choir from Hradec Kralove, a town in the Czech Republic. It is an organization of 400 children in seven preparatory ensembles, of which only the best 25 or 30 qualify to tour. For 45 years they have been admired all over the world for their tonal brilliance, superb intonation, distinctive rich blend of sound and energetic vitality. Today, Jitro is considered as one of the best children's choirs anywhere in the world. Many awards have been bestowed on the choir by international juries, including prestigious European contests such as Llangollen (1988), Nantes (1989), Neerpelt (1996), Olomouc (2003), Xiamen (2006), Lecco (2010), Pardubice (2015), Žilina (2017) and Sydney (2018).
America's love of Jitro was re-born when the choir was invited to sing at the National Convention of the American Choral Conductors Association in San Antonio, Texas in 1993. Standing ovations were given by thousands of professional American conductors in the auditorium. An official response from Dr. J. B. Haberlen, ACDA President, "Our ACDA members will long remember your concerts, as they were a major highlight of the 1993 convention.” The excitement in this select audience of choral conductors and their sustained applause attest to this fact. Professor Doreen Rao of Toronto University commented, "Are you aware that you have just changed forever the character and style of all American choral singing?"
Jitro Choir makes over 100 appearances annually and has sung with other renowned choruses, including the American Boys' Choir. Jitro has performed with the Bavarian Symphonic Orchestra, the Milano Symphonic Orchestra, the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Czech Philharmonic. They have performed in prestigious concert halls in Prague, Barcelona, Hale, Bern, Basle, Dortmund, Avignon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Austin, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, Nashville, Indianapolis, Madison, Chicago, Penn State University, New York City, Huston, San Antonio, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Tokyo, Osaca, Sydney,Hong Kong, Xiamen, and many more.
The Jitro Choir's classical discography includes 39 solo Jitro discs. They have recorded with various companies like Supraphon, BMA, Classico, Amabile, ArcoDiva and Navona Recordings. The recent discography of the choir contains a special edition of CDs devoted to famous composers associated with the choir: Anton Dvorak, Bohuslav Martinu, Otmar Macha, Petr Eben, Ilja Hurník, Jan Jirásek.
Since 1977, Jiri Skopal has led the choir as Artistic Director and Principle Conductor winning high praise for his brilliant leadership, and pianist Michael Chrobak’s superb playing adds luster to the choir’s remarkable performances.
