On December 20th, at the Teatro Malibran, the Cantori Veneziani Association celebrates a historic milestone – its fiftieth anniversary – with a concert featuring a diverse repertoire spanning from Bach to Puccini, with a nod to Bernstein. Deeply rooted in the fabric of Venetian culture and one of its most enduring institutions, the association was founded in 1974 with the creation of the Piccoli Cantori Veneziani choir, an initiative led by maestros Davide Liani and Mara Bortolato. Their goal was to introduce children to music through choral practice.
The initiative was an immediate success, drawing participants from across the province and capturing the attention of Teatro La Fenice, with which the choir continues to collaborate on operas and symphonic performances. Within a few years, a student choir was formed, composed mainly of high school students from the city, which became known as Cantori Veneziani. This ensemble also garnered significant public interest, gradually expanding its repertoire and undertaking ambitious projects both in Italy and abroad.
A census taken 40 years after its founding estimated that approximately 4,000 individuals had participated in the association’s activities. Today, Cantori Veneziani comprises four choral groups: three youth choirs for ages 3 to 16, an adult mixed choir, and a 35-member orchestral workshop—L.O.V. (Laboratorio Orchestra Venezia).
Since 2010, the association has also run a music literacy project in the kindergarten and primary school classes of the Dante Alighieri Comprehensive Institute in Venice, funded by a group of patrons committed to the importance of musical education in schools. This project has gradually expanded to other institutions in the area.
The preparation of the choirs is entrusted to a team of experts, assisted by a vocal coach and coordinated by the artistic director and maestro Diana D’Alessio. The December 20th concert is intended as a moment of celebration and sharing for everyone who has been part of the organization over the years, embracing its values and contributing to the realization of a dream that has become a vibrant reality.
