{"id":27338,"date":"2021-08-19T10:26:39","date_gmt":"2021-08-19T08:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pecs.hu\/pecsi-bartok-bela-ferfikar\/"},"modified":"2022-11-30T11:04:55","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T10:04:55","slug":"pecs-bartok-bela-mens-choir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pecs.hu\/en\/pecs-bartok-bela-mens-choir\/","title":{"rendered":"P\u00e9cs Bart\u00f3k B\u00e9la Men\u2019s Choir"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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The choir was (re)established in 1942 with singers from P\u00e9cs Choir (\u201cP\u00e9cs Dal\u00e1rda\u201d) and P\u00e9cs Civic Choir (\u201cPolg\u00e1ri Dalosk\u00f6r\u201d). Between 1942 and 1943, the choir\u2019s activities were interrupted by the war, so it was officially established in 1945.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The choir took the name of P\u00e9cs Bart\u00f3k B\u00e9la Men\u2019s Choir in 1957. The seat of the choir where the singers rehearsed twice a week was the community centre at the tram yard of the former P\u00e9cs Tram Company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bartok<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The first choir master was Elem\u00e9r Szentkereszti followed by dr. S\u00f3lyom J\u00f3zsefn\u00e9 until the end of the 1950s. The choir had about 30-35 members \u2013 mostly the employees of P\u00e9cs City Transport Company. In 1957, the choir organised the National Gathering of Workers\u2019 Choirs. Under the leadership of choir master Andor Ligeti, they received the highest rank in the choral evaluation system. Their first guest performance abroad was in Esz\u00e9k (Croatia) with the local mixed choir called \u201cLIPA\u201d in 1967. In 1969, they met the \u201cMonument to the Battle of Nations\u201d Choir in Leipzig (Germany), then in 1972, the \u201cLahden Mieskuoro\u201d Choir welcomed them in Lahti (Finnland). The choir led by choir master Val\u00e9r Jobb\u00e1gy received the title of \u201cfestival choir\u201d in 1974 and 1976. In 1974, it organised, for the second time, the (Advocacy Service of Public Service Workers) National Gathering of Choirs. At this event the organisers offered a travelling cup that choirs sought to win for decades. The first management assistant of the choir was L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Inokai until 1980.  Then, Istv\u00e1n Hegyi, assistant choir master, assisted the work of three choir masters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1980 marked the beginning of a new period for the choir. Tam\u00e1s Lakner, the student of Aur\u00e9l Tillai became the new choir master at the age of 26. In addition to older members, many young workers along with secondary school and university students joined the choir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1981, the choir earned the title of \u201cFestival Choir\u201d for the third time.  This was also the time when the choir gave up the singing traditions characteristic of workers\u2019 choirs. Instead, they started to sing musical pieces by Lassus, Palestrina, Kod\u00e1ly, Bart\u00f3k, as well as Gregorian and contemporary pieces in addition to religious music. For instance, they sang \u201cCanon\u201d by Liszt Prize winner composer, L\u00e1szl\u00f3 S\u00e1ry in Szombathely \u2013 a premier followed by many more. The choir went through a paradigm shift after 1980: the members were young singers, and they established a new choral repertoire \u2013 both of which led to great professional success. They have won 63 prizes at international choral contests including the \u201cGrand Prize\u201d and the award of \u201cBest Chorus Master\u201d. Showcases are filled with vases, cups, bowls, certificates, and other relics documenting their achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The members of the choir established a foundation called \u201cP\u00e9cs Men\u2019s Choir Foundation\u201d in 1991 to support choral activities and men\u2019s choirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A thorough overview of the choir\u2019s history and its activities would fill a book, so the following list only shows the choir\u2019s participation, by year, in choral contests, festivals and the Choir Olympics:<\/p>\n\n\n

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    \n
  1. Italy: Fermignano.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Germany: Fellbach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Spain: Torrevieja.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Italy: Riva del Garda<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Germany: Fellbach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Germany: Leipzig.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. France: Saint Marcellin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. France: Tour, Paris.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Italy: Rome, Vatican.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  10. Transylvanian tour.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  11. USA, Canada,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  12. Spain: Barcelona.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  13. England: Llangollen; Germany: Berlin: Reichstag.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  14. Germany: Fellbach; France: Paris.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  15. Italy: Fivizzano.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  16. England: Truro.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  17. Italy: Sicily; France: Gannat; South America: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  18. Italy: Savigliano; Slovakia: Gal\u00e1nta; Transylvania.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  19. Germany: Essen; China: Choir Olympics, Xiamen, Hongkong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  20. Transylvania, Germany: Berlin; Sweden and Finland.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  21. Austria: Graz, Choir Olympics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  22. Spain: Torrevieja.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  23. USA: Minnesota; Austria: Vienna; Germany: Essen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  24. England: London: Royal Festival Hall.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  25. England: London.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  26. Turkey: Istanbul.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  27. Belgium; China: Shanghai, Peking: (Great Wall).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  28. Czech Republic: Prague.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  29. China: a tour of 8 concerts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  30. Latvia: Riga.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  31. Argentina: Buenos Aires<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  32. China: a tour of 7 concerts: Shaoxing and Beijing<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

    The costs of the trips were covered by project grants, donations, and significant contributions by choir members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, domestic concerts have always been prioritised by the choir. Some of the most notable domestic concerts include:<\/p>\n\n\n

    \n