Helsinki Cathedral Choir (Choir)

Founded: 1970 - Helsinki, Finland

The Helsinki Cathedral Choir (Helsingin Katedraalikuoro) was founded in 1970. The number of choir members has been gradually growing and in mid 1970’s it consisted of about 160 singers. Because the Helsinki Cathedral Choir fulfilled the functions of the choir of the Helsinki Cathedral Parish, its main duties were to assist the church services on Sunday mornings, at vigils and vespers well as take care of other musical tasks in the Parish. The repertoire of the Cathedral Choir consisted of i.e., the following works: Heinrich Schütz’ Musikalische Exequien, Bengt Johansson’s Vesper Music, Eero Erkkilä’s Vespers and Vigilia, J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor (BWV 232), W.A. Mozart’s Requiem, L.v. Beethoven’s the choir parts of the 9^th Symphony, George Frideric Handel’s Messiah, G. Verdi’s Requiem. The choir began to disintegrate after Eero Erkkilä retired due to ill health.

The Helsinki Cathedral Choir rehearsing with Eero Erkkilä in the crypt of the Cathedral (mid 1970’s) [01]

Source: Programme notes from mid 1970’s
Contributed by Michael Cox (November 2010, September 2011)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Eero Erkkilä

Choir

BWV 232

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