Odyssées Chamber Choir

Created in 1984 in Claye-Souilly (Seine-et-Marne) under the name of “Claye Vocale”, the choir has been directed by Marie-Hélène Caspar since 1986.

Since September 2020, the choir has been conducted by Nicolas de Valdeverde.

Since its creation, the choir has had two main objectives:

• Promote choral music and more generally classical music and world music in Claye-Souilly and the surrounding area
• Export the Choir’s repertoires abroad.
  These objectives were largely achieved since the choir organized in Claye-Souilly and in Seine-et-Marne dozens of concerts.

He has invited countless foreign choirs and has traveled the world countless times.

He participated in several Festivals (Romania, Russia, China Italy…) and, in 2006, he created his own Festival in Claye-Souilly (World Music).

Under the leadership of Marie-Hèlène Caspar then Nicolas de Valdeverde, “Claye Vocale” which has since become “Odyssées has continued on this path.

The partnership with the city has been strengthened. Projects initiated by the Choir have been carried out in recent seasons. Particularly in Claye-Souilly and Meaux, a project aimed at making the world of the Opera better known.

The 2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019 seasons have enabled the Choir to tackle a previously unknown repertoire: that of composer Karl Jenkins. Some extracts from his Stabat Mater were thus presented in concert in 2016 and 2017 and the complete work was performed in concert at Savigny-le-Temple, Paris and Meaux on November 16, 17 and 18, 2018.

But novelties also allowed the choristers to approach other musical universes:

Extracts from Karl Off’s Carmina Burana, French song medleys, Works by American composers, Spirituals, New Christmas carols…

The objective is both to satisfy the public during concerts scheduled in our region but also to effectively prepare for future tours. Contact with excellent choirs from all over the world (especially Russian, Chinese, Lithuanian …) has always been an extraordinary stimulus for “Odyssey”.

For the year 2022, the choir is preparing a program of French songs and Fauré’s Requiem.

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