Don Cossack Choir

In 1921 it was with these very Russian refugees that Serge Jaroff set about forming a choir in the Turkish internment camp Çilingir [Wikidata], near Istanbul.

The Cossack lieutenant, Serge Jaroff, worked hard on his choir's repertoire, until a splendid opportunity presented itself.

Troops were to be shipped from Çilingir to the Bulgarian town of Burgas and on their behalf the Russian envoy suggested that Jaroff and his choir should be attached to the church.

After this amazingly successful concert in the Austrian capital, the director predicted that the choir would not sing once, but a thousand times.

The choir toured Australia in 1926, leaving behind its lead tenor, Savva Kamaralli (Савва Камаралли), who decided to make his home there.

Hofner left when Jaroff finally agreed to a tour under the direction of George Markitisch.

The tour was a success, but when Minsky became ill and Nicolai Gedda did not want to sing every day, Otto Hofner called it quits.

In 2001 Otto Hofner transferred all the rights in the name Don Cossack Choir Serge Jaroff (Хор донских казаков Сергея Жарова) to Wanja Hlibka.

[2] The Don Cossack Choir was renowned for the quality of the tenors and baritones and for the depth and resonance of the low basses.