The Bel Canto Chamber Choir
The Bel Canto Chamber Choir, comprising ca 30 singers, was founded by Dan Lönnqvist in 1989.
During its lifetime, the Bel Canto has appeared on approx. 180 occasions performing a wide range of music, including Franz Schubert’s “Mass in G major”, Karl- Erik Gustafsson’s “Mass for Pentecost Night” , Gioacchino Rossini’s “Messe Solennelle”, Luigi Cherubini’s “Requiem in C minor”, Anton Dvorak’s “Mass in D major”, Felix Mendelssohn’s “Songs of Praise” symphony, Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Motets”, “St. Matthew Passion” and “Christmas Oratorio”, Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”, Johannes Brahms’ “A German Requiem” and “Requiem” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Music written by Karl Jenkins, Arvo Pärt, Peteris Vasks, Rihards Dubra has also been performed.
The Bel Canto performs mainly in the home town Jakobstad and the local district. However, the Choir has also made trips further afield to Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Italy and Sweden.
It has worked with the Jakobstad Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Central Ostrobothnia, the Cracow Percussion Group and other local choirs for choral projects. Especially the Christmas concerts with many well known soloists have been appreciated.
Dan Lönnqvist has been the Choir’s conductor and Marguerithe Sandstedt-Granvik it´s voice trainer since it´s foundation in 1989.