Credit: Ali Sahib, Chronicle.lu
The Luxembourg-based Pueri Cantores choir, part of the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, has announced that it will perform at the opening celebrations of the World Expo 2025 at the Luxembourg Pavilion in Osaka, Japan on Sunday 13 April 2025.
The travelling party will consist of 48 singers, four instrumentalists, two Japanese translators and choir director, Pierre Nimax.
The choir’s performance at the opening of Expo 2025 will include an exchange concert with Kyoto City’s Ritsumeikan Choir Club, to highlight the cultural and musical ties between both countries.
The choir will visit several Japanese cities, including Hiroshima, Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo, during its ten-day cultural and musical exchange tour of the country, beginning in Hiroshima, where it will perform at the Cathedral of Peace, as well as at Elisabeth University. An exchange with the Nagisa Children’s Choir will take place in Hiroshima. The choir will also participate in workshops and musical exchanges with the Ritsumeikan school choir in Kyoto and in concerts and workshops in partnership with Seikei University in Tokyo.
Chronicle.lu recently spoke with Pierre Nimax, Choir Director, about the history of Pueri Cantores, as well as the forthcoming trip.
Chronicle.lu: Please tell us about the Pueri Cantores choir; when it started, what style of singing it performs, how many people are in it, etc.
Pierre Nimax: The Pueri Cantores choir was founded in 1996 and is part of the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg. It is affiliated with the international Pueri Cantores movement. Our choir specialises in sacred choral music but also performs a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to contemporary works. The choir currently consists of 55 singers aged between ten and 25 years.
Chronicle.lu: What is the connection with the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg?
Pierre Nimax: The choir is an integral part of the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg, where it benefits from rehearsal spaces and professional musical guidance. All our choir members also study music at the Conservatoire.
Chronicle.lu: Where and how often does the choir practise? What is your main language(s)?
Pierre Nimax: We rehearse multiple times per week at the Conservatoire, depending on the programme and upcoming performances. Our main rehearsal languages are Luxembourgish and French but, as we are an international group, we also use German and English when needed.
Chronicle.lu: Do you perform primarily in Luxembourg or abroad (your website mentions San Francisco)?
Pierre Nimax: While [we are] based in Luxembourg, we frequently perform abroad. Our choir has given concerts in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, South Korea and the United States (including San Francisco).
Chronicle.lu: When and how did you learn that you were participating in the World Expo?
Pierre Nimax: We were officially invited to participate in Expo 2025 Osaka in collaboration with the Ritsumeikan Primary School Choir from Kyoto. This invitation came through our connections in Japan and the Luxembourg Pavilion at the Expo. Our joint concert will take place on [Sunday] 13 April 2025, at 19:00 at the Luxembourg Pavilion.
Chronicle.lu: How were you able to arrange the rest of your itinerary in Japan? Did the Japanese Embassy here (help) arrange everything?
Pierre Nimax: The planning of our Japan tour was done in close cooperation with Japanese partners, including the Kyoto Ritsumeikan Primary School, Hiroshima Nagisa Junior and Senior High School Choir, and Seikei University Choir in Tokyo. While the Japanese Embassy in Luxembourg was informed about our project, the main organisation was handled directly between our choirs and event partners.
Chronicle.lu: How is the choir funding this trip? Are you benefitting from grants, or do members have to pay their own way?
Pierre Nimax: The trip is funded through a combination of contributions from choir members, institutional support, grants [and] sponsorship.
Chronicle.lu: Who selects the music / repertoire for this tour and how much practising do you have to do / when did you start practising?
Pierre Nimax: The repertoire for this tour has been carefully selected in collaboration with our Japanese partners to create a harmonious blend of Luxembourgish and Japanese musical traditions. We began rehearsing the joint pieces several months ago and our preparations will intensify as the trip approaches.
Chronicle.lu: Do you perform to live / recorded music? If live music, who will accompany you, and which instruments will they play?
Pierre Nimax: Our performances are always accompanied by live music. For this tour, we have a small ensemble of four instrumentalists who will accompany us on piano/organ, percussion, horn and harp.
Chronicle.lu: What dates will you be away, and do you plan to do any sightseeing while you are there?
Pierre Nimax: We will be in Japan from Tuesday 8 to Friday 18 April 2025. In addition to our concerts, we have planned cultural exchanges and sightseeing in cities such as Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo.
Chronicle.lu: Do you conduct the choir yourself?
Pierre Nimax: Yes, I will be conducting the Pueri Cantores choir during this tour.
HOM
