The
Choir Amici della Montagna, founded in Genoa in 1973 by a group of lovers
of the mountains, of its traditions and of its songs, has always followed the
current of Bepi de Marzi’s songs.
The Choir nowadays is formed by more than 45 elements (between choristers and
apprentices), directed by Enrico Derchi, and has developed its own personality,
continuously looking for less-know tracks, but always faithful to environmental
respect and human dignity.
Already in 1979, for the favour of the critics and of the audience, the Choir
received the Ligurian Regional Award for Folk music.
The Choir, in its 30 years of activity, sang almost everywhere in Italy: from
the Church of Courmayeur for mountain guides’ feast, to the Sferisterio of
Macerata, from Bolzano Fair Centre for Dolomite’s Festival, to the Cenacle of
Santa Croce in Florence, adding up more than 500 gigs.
In Genoa it sang in all the most important theatres, including the Auditorium
Carlo Felice (an opera house which hosted, among others, Bruce Springsteen and
Sting), the Salone del Maggior Consiglio of Palazzo Ducale (the one of G8
meeting, in July 2001), and the Salone del Gonfalone of Palazzo Tursi, the town
hall.
On
December 1993 the Choir took part in the Advent Celebrations organized by the
city of Vienna, and it had the great honour of singing in the Feast’s Room of
the town hall of the Austrian capital city.
As
a celebration for its 25th year of activity the Choir had the joy of
singing in the Holy Mass in the cathedral of Genoa and great pleasure of share
the stage with the Choir “I Crodaioli”, directed by Bepi de Marzi, in an
unforgettable gig at Gustavo Modena Theatre in Sampierdarena.
The Choir recorded 2 LP, a tape and 2 CD; it organized 5 National Choral
Contests and several festivals, as well as a great number of benefit gigs.
In
1997 the Choir has been nominated Official Choir of the Italian Hiking
Federation (FIE).
For this position the Choir has been the only Italian group invited to EURORANDO
2001, a week of meetings, exhibitions, debates and concerts organized by the
European Hiking Federation (FEE) in Strasbourg on September 2001.
In the French city the Choir took part in the gala gig at Rheneus Hall, together
with other groups proceeding from all over Europe, it sang at Colmar’s
Ecomusee and it paraded in Strasbourg in the final day of the Festival.
On
December 2001 the choir has been invited to sing the National Anthem, harmonized
just for the Choir by the master Agostino Dodero, at the Mamelian Days (a
celebration for the anthem’s writer, Goffredo Mameli, who was born in Genoa),
in the Museum of the Risorgimento, in the presence of the local authorities.
In
1998, side by side to the Choir, was founded the Female Choir Brinella.
Brinella Choir is formed by 25 elements dedicated to the study and the execution
of interesting tracks, purposely written for feminine voices.
Choristers are in part daughters, wives and relatives of the members of Amici
della Montagna Choir, and in part more or less young women, lovers of choral
singing.
The Choir is directed by Silvia Derchi, daughter of the director of Amici
della Montagna Choir, a graduated pianist of the Conservatory of Genoa.
Historical Uniforms of the Choir
To see our LPs and
CDs look at La Discografia.
To order just send a mail from I Contatti