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To develop the quality of collective amateur musical practice, to encourage personal fulfillment through musical expression, and to bring the richness of our cultural heritage to as wide an audience as possible.
Description
Created in 2005 and directed by Philippe Simon in Puy Saint Martin, then in Chabeuil in 2014 with a second group, the Chœur Odyssée is now recognized for the quality of its productions.
The 2 groups come together for concerts, which bring together 35 amateur choristers, sometimes accompanied by musicians specializing in early music, depending on the program.
Each year, the choir's project closely combines vocal expression with lively, sometimes staged, interpretation.
After a number of programs reviving secular and sacred music from the Middle Ages, including "Ballades et Rondeaux pour la Reverdie" and "Le Livre Vermeil de Montserrat" (2012 and 2011), as well as motets by Josquin des prés and French chansons renaissantes in 2014, Chœur Odyssée set sail for Italy with Monteverdi's sacred music in the four-part mass "Selva morale" (2016), followed by his secular music "Ode à l'Amour" (madrigals and scherzi musicali) in 2017.
In 2018, 6 premieres were given of "Orfeo imaginaire" (after Monteverdi), in 2019 of "La Musique des Sphères" (Music of the Spheres), blending ancient polyphonies with those of young composer Ola Gjeilo, and in 2020 of "Chants sacrés entre Terre et Ciel" (Sacred Songs between Earth and Sky), bringing together masterpieces by the Renaissance masters: Josquin des Prés, Palestrina, Byrd, Victoria... then in 2021 the choral opera "Purcell's Queens" and finally in 2022 "Monteverdi and the madrigal".
Valence Cathedral, Manthes Priory, St Anne de Bonlieu Basilica, Léoncel Abbey, Grignan Collegiate Church, theaters in Die, St Marcel les Valence... and many other venues have hosted concerts and shows by the Odyssée Choir since its creation.