The early stages...


1914: Mgr Perruchot and the Choir of the Monaco Cathedral				1906: Monaco's Cathedral
_{The first known traces of a vocal group with children’s voices date back in the XVIIIth century, to the reign of Prince Antoine 1st.} _{This group, whose mission was to ensure the execution of liturgies at the Palatine Chapel, may be considered as the ancestor of the future “Choir of the Monaco Cathedral”. Some centuries later, in 1904, Prince Albert 1st and the Bishop of Monaco appointed Monseigneur Perruchot, a renowned musician, with the assignment of organizing a choral group. The choir rapidly grew famous and prospered within the beautiful Cathedral arected on the Promontory and consacrated in 1886.} Serving the liturgy first and foremost, the choir of the Cathedral progressively mastered a significant repertoire of Renaissance works, but also of modern composers who defended the renewal of sacred music at the beginning of the XXth century.				Prince Antoine 1^st of Monaco

A strong growth...


				Canon Henri Carol
_{Canon Aurat took up the task from Monseigneur Perruchot until 1945, and with his obstinate efforts he succeeded in keeping the Choir alive during the dark years of the Second World War. In 1946, the choir, saddened by the sudden death of their Master Canon Aurat, was entrusted to the Chapel Master of Montpellier Cathedral: Father Henri Carol, organist and composer. For over a quarter of a century he would enliven the destiny of the Monegasque choir. In 1973, Canon Carol was appointed holder of the beautiful great organ, which had just been installed in the Cathedral. Meanwhile, the Government summoned Philippe Debat, at that time working in Paris, and entrusted him with the job of perpetuating the efforts of his predecessors.} _{Under his direction a new talent blossomed within the Choir: it asserted itself in a mission to spread to all countries the music of the Principality. This mission was specifically assigned to the children’s voices alone and this youthful choir was christened in 1974 “The Little Singers of Monaco” by H.S.H. Prince Rainier III.}				Mr Philippe Debat

A sacred art…

H.S.H. Prince Rainier III

_{The soprani, mezzo soprani, alti and contralti had a double mission : executing all of services in the Cathedral, and on the occasion of concert tours, bringing everywhere the Good News of Sacred Art and thus contributing to the spiritual and artistic radiance of the Principality of Monaco. H.S.H. Prince Rainier III would watch over the destinies of this young group with growing involvement, over His “little singing ambassadors” as He affectionately called them.

He also gave each of them a feature badge with His coat of arms that the Little Singers wear over their hearts during their many concerts.}

_{Following the death of Philippe Debat in 1999, the Government appointed his son and assistant Pierre Debat as Director of the choir of Monaco Cathedral, and of the Little Singers of Monaco.

Children with nine years of age can be part of the Choir. To be recruited they must successfully pass an examination of their vocal, auditory and musical qualities. Pursuant to this entrance examination, parents must undertake they will ensure their children’s utmost assiduity to the rehearsals, seminaries of choir work and to the concert tours, which are spread over the whole school year.}

blason
Coat of arms of the Principalty

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Mr Pierre Debat

Worldwide tours...

On the Great Wall of China

_{In order to dedicate sufficient working time to their task, they are taken as soon as half-term begins to the hills behind Nice for a first seminary of choir work, always followed by a second training of the same kind in Salzbourg, Austria, during the February holidays, at the end of which they perform their first concerts.
Up to now, the Choir visited thirty five countries : Argentina, Austria, Esthonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belgium, Canada, South Korea, Croatia, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Morocco, The Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the U.S.A., Taiwan, Vatican.

The Little Singers have also been associated with some performances of the Monte-Carlo Opera and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra: “La Bohème” and “Tosca” of Puccini, “Der Rosenkavalier” of Strauss, “Orfeo ed Euridice” of Gluck, “Pelléas et Mélisande” of Debussy, “Carmen” of Bizet, "Nut-cracker" of Tchaïkovsky, "Werther" of Massenet", "La Damnation de Faust" of Berlioz... and they took part to the first ever recording in French of Georges Enesco’s opera “Oedipe”, with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Monte-Carlo conducted by Lawrence Foster, accompanying José Van Dam, Gabriel Bacquier, Nicolai Gedda, Barbara Hendricks, Brigitte Fassbaender for EMI (First Disc Prize). They also sang in the Principality with Ruggero Raimondi, Katia Ricciarelli, Leo Nucci, Lucia Valentini-Terrani.}

Washington

Prestigious tours...


_{In 1997, as part of the closing celebrations ceremonies of the 700 years of the Grimaldi Dynasty, they took part to the “Christmas Concert” held in the Vatican and broadcasted in Worldvision, performed together with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and numerous international artists. They gave a concert together with the Moroccan Philharmonic Orchestra, in Morocco as part of the “Festival of World Sacred Musics”, hosted in Fez. They also sang at UNESCO XXXth General Conference held in Paris, and in prestigious venues such as the United Nations Headquarters and "Yankee Stadium" in New-York, but also the "Kennedy Center" in Washington, "Kravis Center" in Palm Beach, the Opera of Shanghaï, the "Teatro Opera" of Buenos Aires, the "Seoul Arts Center", the "Irving Arts Center" of Dallas, the "Teatro de la Ciudad" in Mexico, the "Tchang Kaï-Check Concert Hall" in Taïpei, the "Conservatoire Tchaïkovsky" of Moscow, and many others.} _{Benefiting from the generous financial support of the Monegasque government, The Little Singers of Monaco are able to perform a large number of concerts organised by charitable institutions, not only in the Principality, but also in the various countries they visit.}

Under the Patronage of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco


_{All tours are generally organized by the Concerts Agencies. Abroad, the Choir is placed under the patronage of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco and sponsored by the Prince’s Government. Contacts with hosting countries are initiated via the Foreign Office and the Principality’s Diplomatic and Consular offices. The Little Singers are officialy introduced directly through the high intercession of H.E. the Ministry of State of the Principality. It is therefore an official activity, fully endorsed and supported by the Monegasque State.}