Ensemble Orlando: from project to professional choir
Initiated in Fribourg in 1994 by Laurent Gendre, the professional vocal ensemble today connects regions, languages and generations.
Originally specializing in Renaissance music, the Ensemble Orlando has developed into a professional vocal ensemble over the course of almost 30 years since it was founded under the direction of Laurent Gendre. Its variable line-up consists of ten to thirty singers. The repertoire stretches back to the 18th century. The ensemble works with various orchestras, performs at home and abroad and has recorded several CDs.
The vocal ensemble is still based in Fribourg. However, some of the singers come from German-speaking Switzerland and the ensemble would like to gain a greater foothold in German-speaking regions in the future. It is also important to him to connect generations. For example, founding members are still singing today, passing on their diverse experience to the young singers who have recently joined the ensemble. It also carried out a project with the University of Music of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland (HEMU) in 2022. 19 singing students were given an insight into the working methods of a professional choir by performing a concert together with the Ensemble Orlando.
