While forming part of the Opera Company, the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus is a creative entity in its own right and occupies a page of its own in Bolshoi history. In the 80’s of the 19th century, Ulrich Avranek was appointed Chief Chorus Master and second conductor of the Theatre’s orchestra. Under his leadership, the Chorus attained a very high performance level and became known throughout Russia. Many composers wrote music specially for it. At the beginning of the last century, the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus took part in Sergei Diaghilev’s Russian Seasons in Paris. As the art of staging opera developed, the Chorus became an active participant in all the Theatre’s opera productions. First-class musicians, the Bolshoi Theatre conductors and chorus masters developed the artistic traditions of choral singing and enhanced the beauty, power and expressiveness of its sound.
Today, the Chorus has a vast concert repertoire, including works for chorus by Sergei Taneyev, Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Sergei Prokofiev, and religious music. Since 2003, the Chorus has been led by Merited Artist of Russia Valery Borisov. The Chorus took part in concert programs led by outstanding conductors, amongst them Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Vladimir Fedoseev, Alberto Zedda, Jiří Bělohlávek, Vassily Sinaisky.
In 2005 the Bolshoi Theatre Chorus was awarded with Special Prize of The Golden Mask for its works for Macbeth and Der Fliegende Holländer. In 2019, the Chorus was awarded the International Opera Awards.
