From the Baltic to the Mediterranean: A Choral Exchange

Alternative Stage Founding Donor

Major Sponsor of the Greek National Opera

Two youthful choirs from different corners of Europe come together for the first time on stage in a concert that highlights the power of voice as a powerful tool for cultural identity and communication.
The female choral ensemble CHÓRES and the National Youth Choir of the Netherlands present a programme featuring works from the Baltic, Central Europe, and the Balkans – a musical journey that connects the strictness of the North with the liveliness of the South through classical works and contemporary choral arrangements of traditional songs.
The concert titled From the Baltic to the Mediterranean: A Choral Exchange is the culmination of a series of joint workshops and artistic exchanges between the two choirs, guided by experienced conductors and educators. It creates a choral landscape that extends from Central Europe to the Balkans. From Arvo Pärt’s mysticism and Zoltán Kodály’s rhythmic expressiveness to the fascinating traditions of Balkan polyphony and modern Greek choral works, the two choirs showcase a multiethnic repertoire that focuses on dialogue and co-existence.
Despite their geographical distance, the two choirs share a common core of artistic perception and pedagogic philosophy. The female choral ensemble CHÓRES, ever since its formation by Marina Satti in 2018, has served as an artistic hub for women and teenagers, focusing on fostering the holistic development of the performing arts and empowering artistic expression through collectiveness. At the same time, the National Youth Choir of the Netherlands, an ensemble established in 1996, emphasizes the development of its members’ artistic independence and cultural awareness, offering high-quality musical training in an environment that fosters collaboration and creative dialogue. Both ensembles experiment with the interaction between traditional and contemporary elements, aiming not only for technical excellence but also to shape mindful young artists with social responsibility and cultural awareness. Both also rank among the most vital artistic forces in their respective countries, active at the intersection of music and social action.

The concert will be preceded by a joint workshop involving both choirs in the Chorus Hall of the GNO at the SNFCC, on Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 November 2025.