Founded by Danuta Chmurska in 2010, the Artos Children's Choir draws on the legacy left by its patron, Władysław Koraczewski – once a soloist of the Warsaw Opera, scout instructor, and a great educator of the youth – who encouraged children's natural interactions with music.
The choir practices at the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, while its members are invited to perform children's parts in productions staged by the opera house and enjoy giving concerts.
The younger group gathers 5–9-year-olds, while the older one is made up of 10–15-year-olds. Currently, the children’s section consists of more than a hundred children. The choir is led by Paulina Zajkowska, music teacher and accompanist, and Danuta Chmurska, its artistic director and conductor.
Although still a young project, Artos has already been involved in a range of significant musical undertakings.
- The choir recorded an album of Christmas carols at the Witold Lutosławski Concert Studio of Polish Radio (21 kolęd z akredytacją; Sinfonia VIVA i Goście).
- Members of the choir performed children's parts in such productions of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera as Carmen, Turandot, King Roger, Jacob Lenz, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, and Kurt Weill.
- Boys from the children’s section sang Henri Dutilleux's The Shadows Of Time with NOSPR in Katowice, Poland under Pierre Andre Valade.
- The children’s section participated in the Teatr Wielki’s educational concerts Opera for the Little Ones.
- The ensemble performed in the show Christmas Dedication directed by Beata Redo-Dobber.
- The choir took part in the concert Warszawiacy śpiewają nie/zakazane piosenki [Warsaw sings (un)forbidden songs] on Piłsudskiego Square on 1 August 2011.
What is more, Artos performed:
- a concert of Moniuszko songs and arias at the Royal Łazienki Park, Warsaw;
- Gustaw Mahler’s Symphony of a Thousand under Gabriel Chmura at the Warsaw University of Technology Auditorium in March 2013;
- Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana to conclude the Łańcut Festival in May 2013;
- a concert at the Latin Cathedral, Lviv, presenting the programme Z serca in September 2013;
- carol concerts at the Royal Castle, the Royal Wilanów Palace, and the Belvedere in Warsaw for the Polish President and his wife (December 2013);
- the concert Z serca at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw for female ambassadors and wives of foreign diplomats accredited in Poland hosted by the First Lady (January 2014);
- a concert of Jerzy Wasowski’s pieces, Odmieniony świat (A changed world), at the Warsaw University of Technology as part of the series Wielka muzyka w małej auli (Great music in a small auditorium) – the choir’s children’s sections and the chamber section, Kalorynki, and
- the concert Dla Ciebie Mamo (It’s for you, Mum) at the Redutowe Rooms, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera.
The world premiere of the show Fairy tale, Where Are You? by Paulina Zajkowska on 3 January 2016 was received with a standing ovation and included in the Teatr Wielki’s programme.
The Artos Musical Society also incorporates a chamber, boys’ and mixed choir. The latter performed at Carnegie Hall, New York in the spring of 2016. In April 2017 the choir will participate in the world premiere of Tango Credo at David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, New York.
