Comprising vocalists that perform on a regular basis as soloists at the main theatres in Brazil, the Municipal Lyrical Choir of São Paulo performs at opera assemblies in the different seasons of the Theatro Municipal, either in concert with the Municipal Symphony Orchestra, with Balé da Cidade (City Ballet), or at their own performances.
The Lyrical Choir was conceived in 1939 with maestro Fidélio Finzi acting as their first director. He prepared the group for their debut with classic opera Turandot, on June 13 of that year. In 1947, Sisto Mechetti became their first titular maestro, and the choir only went on to being formalised in 1949. Later, the group’s direction has been in the hands of Tullio Serafin, Olivero De Fabritis, Eleazar de Carvalho, Armando Belardi, Francisco Mignone, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Roberto Schnorremberg, Marcello Mechetti, Fábio Mechetti and Bruno Greco Facio.
Currently conducted by Mário Zaccaro, the Municipal Lyrical Choir of São Paulo has been awarded Best Choir Ensemble in 1996 by the APCA and the Opera category at the 1997’s Carlos Gomes prize.
Mário Zaccaro
Mário Zaccaro has learned how to be a conductor with Eleazar de Carvalho and Robert Shaw, with Cyro Pereira and Luis Arruda Paes teaching him orchestration. He performed as artistic director for the Jazz Symphony Orchestra and as assistant conductor for maestro Isaac Karabtchevsky at São Paulo’s Municipal Symphony Orchestra.
From 1994 to 2013 he conducted the Municipal Lyrical Choir of São Paulo, and then reclaimed his part in 2017. Mário Zaccaro has introduced several innovations on the musical training techniques for the Lyrical Choir, what earned them the title of Best Choir Ensemble by the APCA, in 1996, and the Carlos Gomes prize on the Opera category, awarded by São Paulo’s State Department of Culture in 1997. That same year, he also went on to being recognised as best choir conductor by the APCA.
Perceived as one of the best conductors in activity in Brazilian’s musical scene, the maestro, composer, arranger and pianist Mário Zaccaro has also acted as a professor at São Paulo’s Municipal School of Music, teaching subjects like Theory, Harmony and Musical Perception
Regente Titular
Mário Zaccaro
Regente Assistente
Sergio Wernec
Pianistas
Marcos Aragoni
Marizilda Hein Ribeiro
Coordenadora Administrativa
Thais Vieira Gregório
Inspetor
Bruno Farias
Auxiliar
Flávia Campos
