October 12, Sunday, 7 pm
Lėlė Puppet Theatre, Arklių g. 5
Zefiro torna
.
THE ROMEO & JULIET CHOIR
of the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Sweden
Leader: Benoît Malmberg
The Romeo & Juliet Choir has gained international
reputation as guardians and renewers of the rich musical treasury of the Renaissance. By giving
scenic expression to 500-year-old songs, Artistic Director Benoīt Malmberg aims to revive the
European cultural heritage and open up the theatre to the audience.
The choir was formed in 1991 in order to perform musical interludes in the Royal Dramatic
Theatre production of Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet. Very soon it started to live its
own life, imaginatively combining song, dance and theatre in witty concert programmes. Sprung from
the world of theatre, the choir concentrates on the ideal of early music, where music and drama
create an inseparable whole. Be it the Italian Renaissance, courtly French Baroque, Slavic
liturgical songs or frivolous folk songs, dramatic action is as important as vocal accuracy.
The Romeo & Juliet Choir also appear in more traditional concert forms. Here, the members
playfulness is given free reign and scenic images for productions in development are improvised.
The artists infinite flexibility and experience coupled with a vast multi-lingual repertory make
The Romeo & Juliet Choir welcome guests at various representations, ceremonies and banquettes
held by politicians, ambassadors and international business companies.
Benoît Malmberg was born in 1964 in Cameroon. Having began his musical career
as a chorister, he also studied the piano and cello, and later joined the Music Theatre of
Karlstad. In 1986, as one of the few professional countertenors in Sweden, he was offered a
job at the Royal Dramatic Theatre and has since worked his way through theatre in different
positions finally becoming a producer.
In 1991, Malmberg was invited to take charge of the music in the production of Romeo and Juliet
put up by the Danish director Peter Langdahl. The production was a great success, and Benoît
Malmberg was asked to continue his work with the group of singing actors. Thus The Romeo &
Juliet Choir was formed, and since then their productions have been part of the repertory of
the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
Malmberg has conducted many concerts with the choir, has recorded one solo album and six albums
with the choir, and has performed throughout the world. In 1999, Benoît Malmberg and The
Romeo & Juliet Choir were awarded the Ingmar Bergman price.
Web Site of ROMEO & JULIA CHOIR