A hystory began in 1946
The "G.P. Palestrina" choir was founded in Suzzara in 1946 on the initiative of Professor Aldo Dalboni, under whose direction he proposed two types of repertoire: liturgical and lyric. The lyric operas represented were Tosca, Il Trovatore and Cenerentola. In 1960 Professor Dalboni was called to Parma as teacher of the Conservatory of Music, and the group continued its activity only with the male sections within the local company OM Fiat: at that time the repertoire consisted mainly of songs taken from local and popular music, the conductor was professor Ettore Maffetti.
In 1970 the beloved Don Lino Boselli was nominated to hold the parish of the Immaculate Conception Church in Suzzara (photo), a great lover of music: the choir took place inside the parish and here began a new life with the return of female voices. With his great energy, Don Boselli tenaciously instructed the singers in a large program of sacred music, holding the reins of the choir for 25 years.
In 1995, for health reasons, Don Boselli was forced to cede the conduction to Professor Carlo Benatti of Mantua, a valued organist who still works in this role with the choir.
Alfredo Scalari has been the conductor from 2010 to November 2012. He is an estimated Conductor and pianist; he is currently pianist of the National Dance Academy in Rome.
Currently the Palestrina Choir is led by professor Pieralessio Caroli.
The choir is composed of about 40 elements and offers a vast repertoire that ranges from Gregorian chant to sacred music, from opera to operetta, and is appreciated for the professionalism with which it performs concerts and participates in liturgical celebrations.
Among the most significant transfers of Choir we remember:
1970: Sombor (Serbia)
1983: Barcelona (Spain); Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Conference of the Italian Scholae Cantorum
1987: Rome, S. Maria Transpontina Church; Mantua, St. Andrea's Basilica and Bibiena Theater
1998: Spain, various locations and in front of the rebuilding of the Liceu Theater in Barcelona
1999: Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica; Pomezia, St. Benedict Church
2000: Dome in the city of Salò (BS)
2001: Rome, Holy Spirit in Sassia's Church
2003: Pegognaga (MN), Municipal Theater; Mantua, St. Apollonia's Church with the orchestra "I Cameristi Virgiliani"; Vatican City, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Conference of the Italian Scholae Cantorum
2004: Pegognaga (MN), Municipal Theater; Suzzara (MN), "European Festival of Choral Music"
2005: Assisi, St. Francis's Lower Basilica; Guiglia (MO), Castle
2006: Brioude (France), Eglise de la Borie D'Arles and Saint Julien's Basilica
2007: "Alta Pusteria International Choir Festival"
2008: Mantova, Bibiena Theater, with the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Morenic Hills; Cavalese (Tn), Franciscan Father's Church - Commemoration 10th anniversary massacre of Cermis
2009: Choral International Festival "Singen in der Bergen" - Wolfsberg (Austria)
2010: St. Antony's Basilica in Padua
2012: Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona (Spain) and Montserrat Sanctuary
2013: Martina Franca (TA), Palazzo Ducale and St. Domenico's Church; S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG), St. Pio of Pietrelcina's Basilica
2014: Rome, Papal Basilicas of Santa Maria Maggiore, San Giovanni in Laterano, San Paolo fuori le Mura
2015: Siena - St. Martin's Church
2016: Assisi - St.Francis's Upper Basilica
2016: Suzzara: Celebration concert for the 70th anniversary of the Choir
2017: Superga (To) - Basilica of Our Lady of Grace Sanctuary
In the year 2018 the G.P. da Palestrina Choir celebrates his 72nd year of life. In a long period like this various Conductors have succedeed in the choir's guidance, each one by leaving their particular mark. But the main strenght of the Choir continue to be the diligent commitment of its members, who always animate the choir with constancy and passion for music.
The Choir took part several times at the "Singing together" festival, a local festival organized at the Bibiena Theater in Mantua by the Provincial Delegation of the USCI (Union of Italian Choral Societies) in collaboration with the Provincial Administration. In the year 2000 the Choir has been awarded with the prestigious recognition of Rigoletto d'Argento. The Choir main event, particularly awaited by the citizens, is the Christmas Concert at the Immaculate Conception Church in Suzzara (photo)
now become a tradition. The Christmas Concerts 2006 (year of the 60th of the Choir) were performed under the patronage of the Provincial Committee for the UNICEF of Mantua - Onlus.
