COIMBRA UNIVERSITY ALUMNI CHOIR 

Composed by former students of Coimbra University, this male choir gave its first concert in December 1980, for the commemorations of the first centenary of the Orpheon of Coimbra University, from which the present choir takes its institutional roots.

The main aim of its creation was, in a path open to new and stimulating challenges in the field of music, as well as in others of undeniable humanistic scope, to revive the ideals of fraternity, tolerance and solidarity, which, throughout the generations, have been the hallmarks of Coimbra Academia.

It has performed over six hundred concerts and presentations, both in Portugal and abroad.

It has sung in numerous countries: in Europe, in North and South America, in Africa and in the East, as well as at the Seats of International Organizations, namely the European Parliament (1987, 1989, 1994 and 1999), the European Community Court of Justice (1994), the European Commission (1987), UNESCO (1987 and 1990) and the United Nations (1996).

Besides its first LP, recorded in 1985, the Choir has recorded 4 CDs: in 1994, of various types of music; the second one, with traditional “Coimbra music”, accompanied by the London Philharmonic Orchestra; another one (“Alleluya”), of sacred music of different times and origins, and finally, live, the concert with which, at the end of 2001, in the Lisbon Performing Arts Centre, it closed the commemorations of this 20th anniversary.

The repertoire of the Choir includes nearly one hundred themes of various fields - sacred and operatic music, popular music, etc. – with particular emphasis on Portuguese music, above all “Coimbra music”, specially adapted.

In its concerts, the Choir’s performance is usually followed by that of the Group of Coimbra Guitars, which sometimes accompanies the Choir itself, providing a unique effect and promoting awareness of a very significant aspect of Portuguese music.

A high level of professional standards, an unmistakable sonority and the warm and friendly presence of the group make it a widely recognised flagship of Portuguese Culture.

Virgílio Caseiro conducts the Coimbra University Alumni Choir since 2003.

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