National Song Choir of the Mariinsky Theatre Branch in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania

Ossetian male choral art has an ancient and rich history. Modern Ossetians are direct heirs of the Scythian-Sarmato-Alanian world, and the origins of their musical and artistic culture date back to the time of the spiritual formation of the ethnos itself.

In 1998 on the basis of a small male choir a professional male choir was formed, which in 2001 received the status of a male choir of national song of the North Ossetian State Philharmonic. The artistic director was Olga Georgievna Dzhanaeva, a graduate of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music (class of Professor Popova).

Over the course of its creative activity, the group has developed an extensive repertoire covering all genres of national song: historical and heroic, historical and everyday, mythological, cult, ritual, labour and dance songs. A significant section is made up of works by Ossetian composers. The choir's activities are extensive and varied. Active concert activities, participation in festive events of national significance and in choral festivals and competitions at the national, interregional and international levels enable the choir to acquaint a wide range of listeners with the national choral culture. The choir carries out a lot of research work on recording and deciphering ancient ritual songs.

At present it is one of the leading musical ensembles in the South of Russia in terms of the number of concert programmes, richness of repertoire and breadth of performing opportunities.

Concert performances of the musicians are a standard of harmony of stage folk art, whose creative handwriting is distinguished by high professionalism, inimitable individuality and unique style.