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Blánaid Murphy founded Canzona Chamber Choir in January 1996. Originally the members of the choir were drawn from County Carlow. The membership has now expanded to include singers from the whole Leinster area who often travel long distances to attend rehearsals. Canzona has quickly established itself in the choral world. Performances have included J.S. Bach's cantatas and motets in the Orchestra of St Cecilia: Bach Cantata Series, a Department of Education performance for leaving-cert students of J.S. Bach's Cantata BWV 78 in the National Concert Hall, a lunch-time concert of madrigals in the Kilkenny Arts' Arts Week and one of the Winter Warmers series in the National Gallery.
In the frame of Bach Millennium Festival, Canzona Chamber Choir and Orchestra of St Cecilia under the direction of Blánaid Murphy performed the three major choral works of J.S. Bach in Dublin and Wexford: in November 1999 Mass in B minor (BWV 232), in February 2000 St John Passion (BWV 245), and in April 2000 St Matthew Passion (BWV 244). Canzona was the choir in residence at the 1999 Cork International Choral Festival where the premiered works by Mantyjarvi and McGlynn.
Canzona has recorded tracks on the choral CD "Ireland's Voices for Peace". The choir produced the CD "Scenes of an Irish Christmas", which includes many arrangements of Christmas favourites. |
