Les Petits Chanteurs

Founded in 1906, Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix des Bois (Little Singers of the Wooden Cross) are renowned as one of the world's most established children's choirs. Founded by Paul Berthier and Pierre Martin, two students on vacation at l'Abbeye de Tamie, the Paris-based traveling choir broke tradition with its lack of affiliation to a particular parish or cathedral. Directed by Father Fernand Maillet, they soon developed an international presence thanks to performances at the Vatican and an appearance in the 1945 film La Cage aux Rossignols, and continued to remain active throughout the 20th century, with singer/songwriter Matthieu Chédid, Les Prêtres' Charles Troesch, and Olympic rowing champion Adrien Hardy among some of their famous former members. By its centenary year, which was celebrated by a France2 show featuring duets with the likes of Tina Arena, Lara Fabian, and Nolwenn Leroy, the choir school had developed into a full-time educational institution, combining regular studies with a global touring schedule.

Famed for their appearance in Christophe Barratier's 2004 Oscar-nominated Les Choristes, Les Petits Chanteurs de Saint-Marc (known in Spain as Los Chicos del Coro de Saint-Marc) are one of the world's most popular children's choirs. Formed in 1986 by director Nicolas Porte at Lyon's Saint-Marc College, the mixed choir of 75 singers, aged ten to 15, has performed its mixture of spiritual hymns, Gregorian chants, and contemporary classical pieces across Europe, the U.S., and Asia ever since.

A collaboration between Edgar Fruitier, classical music expert and collector, Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte and Cardinal Marc Ouellet, this 6 CD collection of sacred music is a classical's music lover's dream.

En Concert displays the depth and breadth of this talented group of youngsters, who gained fame in the Les Choristes film. Although the live concert is not as polished as the recording studio version of pieces from "Le Choristes" (the movie) which appear here, there is a audio presence and energy in the concert hall that the studio version lacks. Jean Baptiste Maunier, one of the stars and the soloist in the movie, shines in a number of the choral pieces here.