Yale Russian Chorus 70th Anniversary Concert

The Yale Russian Chorus and Alumni welcomes friends old and new for a mesmerizing evening celebrating the rich heritage of Slavic music at Yale! Immerse yourself in the choral music that has captivated audiences worldwide for seven decades. Savor the reverberating power of 80+ voices in the vaulted grandeur of Yale’s Woolsey Hall. Find joy in an enthralling Ukrainian Cossack song, clap and stomp to Russian folk favorites, be intrigued by esoteric Georgian hymnody, and thrill to magnificent choral works from Tchaikovsky and Bortniansky.

The chorus also cherishes its long and rich kinship with the people of Ukraine. Please see the image of the chorus at the Kyivo-Pechersk – Monastery of the Caves in Kyiv from their tour of Ukraine in 1990. The monastery has been a seat of the Orthodox faith for about 1000 years. Very sadly, those golden domes are now regularly seen on news reports. In 1977 the chorus toured the monastery. Under the Soviets, it was considered to be a museum, and religious expressions were strictly disallowed. In spite of this, the chorus began to sing in the underground chapel among the catacomb crypts. They sang “Blazhen Muzh” (Blessed is the Man). This is an ancient chant which originated at the monastery early in the last millennium. They bravely sang knowing there could be consequences for their defiant act. The guard shouted: “Nel’zia!” (forbidden!). By the song’s end, the guard had been moved to tears. In 1990, the monastery had just been returned to the monks, who had resumed their monastic duties. The chorus again sang “Blazhen Muzh”. In the silence that followed the final alliluiya, one of the young monks said, “Teper ya bachu, yak treba spivaty!” (Now I see how one ought to sing it.) A recording of the Chorus singing Blazhen Muzh may be found on the YRC’s youtube channel.

In 1958, the Chorus was the first music group from the United States to tour in the USSR. Please see image of the chorus embarking enroute to Moscow at Idlewild Airport (Now JFK). The YRC has toured in eastern Europe nineteen times over the last seven decades. They have sung in Carnegie Hall five times They were invited to sing at the White House. On many occasions they have sung with various opera companies and orchestras and have toured many times throughout the United States. The YRC has been heard on the PBS radio show, “Prairie Home Companion” The YRC is the oldest Slavic singing group in the United States.

The chorus would be pleased if you could be part of this celebration. Won’t you come and join us?