“Les Chanteurs Du Lycée”

Les Chanteurs du Lycée, choir of the Liceo Franco Mexicano, was founded by its current director Cristina Stevens in January 1992. Formed by students and alumni from ages 9 through 25, it has reached a level of international quality. Its extensive repertoire comprises Gregorian chants and madrigals, baroque and classical pieces, as well as contemporary popular songs and musicals. The choir sings everything in its original language and by heart.

The director, Cristina Stevens, was decorated by the French government with the Palmes Académiques for the title of Chevalier, in February 2006.

Over the years “Les Chanteurs” has performed in some of the most prestigious places in Mexico and around the world: Notre-Dame de Paris (1994, 1999, 2005, 2008), The American Cathedral in Paris (1994), Grace Cathedral and Menlo College in San Francisco (1995), the Cathedrals at Liverpool, Birmingham, Norwich and St Paul’s (1996), The Barcelona Cathedral and the Cathedral at Aix-en-Provence (1999), The Dome of Florence, San Marcos in Venice, Salzburg Cathedral, the Stephansdom in Vienna (1999, 2005, 2011), The Cathedrals of Rouen, Reims , and Chartres in France (2008), in Belgium Antwerpen Kathedraal, Sint Salvators Kathedraal, Cathédrale St. Aubain Namur, and St. Gilles in Brussels (2008).

In Mexico “Les Chanteurs” has sung in the Palacio de Bellas Artes (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006), the “Sala Nezahualcoyotl”, the “Sala Ollín Yoliztli”(2000). In the “Auditorio Nacional” (2001, 2008) and the Castillo de Chapultepec (2007). The choir has also toured the Mexican Republic sponsored by Conaculta (2002, 2003), and has sung in Bogota, Colombia.

Throughout its existence, the choir has also recorded eleven CDs, (1996 – 2011) performed for radio and television programs, recorded several soundtracks for movies produced in New York (2002) and Mexico (2009, 2010, 2011). “Les Chanteurs” has also performed for various Heads of State: The Presidents of France M. Jacques Chirac (2002), and M. Nicolas Sarkozy (2008), its Prime Minister (2004) and the Hereditary Prince of Belgium (2003).

During its tour around France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Luxembourg in July 2008, the choir was named Honorary Choir of the Cathedral of Chartres in France.

Les Chanteurs du Lycée has also participated in major productions such as Carmina Burana (2008, 2009, and 2010) which were held in the Nacional Auditorium in Mexico, winning the Lunas del Auditorio award for best show (2009), as well as in the cultural center of the University of Puebla, in Puebla, and in the Telmex Auditorium in Guadalajara. Summer 2011. Les Chanteurs du Lycée had a successful tour in Europe. They sang in GERMANY: Cologne, Kölder Dom Cathedral; Aachen, Aachen Cathedral; Berlin, at the Mexican Embassy, Benito Juárez hall; POLAND: Warsaw, The Basilica Cathedral of St John’s; Cracow, Basilica of the Virgin Mary; CZECH REPUBLIC: Prague, Church of the Holy Child Jesus, and St. Vitus Cathedral; HUNGARY: Budapest, Matthias Church; AUSTRIA: Vienna, St. Stephen’s Cathedral; Salzburg, Salzburg Cathedral. Upon their return, Les Chanteurs recorded the song Whatever by Oasis for Coca-Cola’s commercial for the promotion of world peace.

In June 2012, the choir celebrated 20 years together with a concert in the Sala Nezahualcoyotl. That same year they recorded their Christmas CD.

In 2013 the choir sang together with a visiting choir from France, Altérité, at the prestigious Cathedral in Mexico City.

During the summer of 2014, Les Chanteurs toured Italy, and sang concerts as well as masses in Milán, at the Cimiterio Monumentale. In Venice, in la Basilica di San Marco. In Pisa, in the Duomo di Pisa. They sang in other places in Florence, Orvieto, Montecasino, and finally in the Chapel of the Sisters María SS. Bambina at the Vatican.

In 2015, they sang once again in the Auditorio Nacional for Carmina Burana. In summer of 2016, the choir toured Switzerland and Liechtenstein, singing in the cathedrals of Geneva, Zurich, the Abbey of Romainmôtier, the Parish of Nicolas and St Martin, Liechtenstein, as well as the Mexican Embassy in Bern.

Les Chanteurs were very honored to once again be participating in another production of Carmina Burana in September 2016.

During the next two years, the choir continued singing in various masses in cathedrals and churches around Mexico city, as well as performing their regular concerts and their annual Christmas performance which they donate to the ABC hospital.

In July 2019 the choir toured several parts of Eastern Canada. They sang a service at St. Andrews Church and then at St James Cathedral in Toronto. In Ottawa, they had a concert for the Mexican community, at the UNAM Gatineau. In Montreal they sang a concert in the Basilique Notre Dame, and then a service and a concert at the Oratoire St Joseph. Finally in Quebec City they had two concerts, in St Anne de Beaupre and in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The choir enjoyed their time together in the wonderful country of Canada.

The choir is currently preparing Mozart’s Requiem.