Les Pastoureaux

(literally: "The Shepherd Boys"), also known as the , is a Belgian choir of boys and men based in Waterloo, Belgium. It was established in 1974« Les Pastoureaux: haut les chœurs ! » in Le Soir. 23 December 1994. Retrieved 12 January 2012. and is currently conducted by Xavier Devillers. Their repertoire includes works of sacred music as well as songs of the world.

History

Concerts and events

Since Christmas 1974, Les Pastoureaux traditionally perform a series of concerts during the Christmas and holiday season, in Brussels (at the Centre for Fine Arts and in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula), as well as in Wallonia. They also sing at various music festivals, such as the Festival of Wallonia and the Festival of Flanders. Their numerous concerts include collaborations with artists such as the famous bass-baritone José van Dam, the Belgian soprano Marie-Noëlle de Callataÿ and the American soprano Jeanette Thompson.« Cinquième Noël chante à Bruxelles pour les Pastoureaux. Nouveau CD Christmas in Waterloo » in Le Soir. 6 December 1994. Retrieved 12 January 2012. Les Pastoureaux are regularly guests of private events, including most notably performances at the Royal Palace of BrusselsAmong others on the occasion of Prince Joachim of Belgium's baptism in 1992; see « Ils seront samedi au Palais des Beaux-Arts. Nouveau CD pour les Pastoureaux », in Le Soir. 14 December 1992. Retrieved 26 December 2011. and the Royal Castle of LaekenThey performed a Christmas concert there in 1988, having been invited by Queen Fabiola; see « Créés en 1974 pour réconforter les malades dans les hôpitaux, ils en ont fait du chemin, ces «petits brigands»... Les Pastoureaux: haut les choeurs ! », in Le Soir. 23 December 1994. Retrieved 4 November 2012. as well as their collaboration to the official show for the changeover to the euro (The Euro Bridge, Brussels, 31 December 2001).« Réveillons. Florilège spécial des festivités de Nouvel An » in Le Soir. 29 December 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2011. See also « Un réveillon pas comme les autres pour les Pastoureaux. L'euro chanté en 3 minutes », in Le Soir. 2 January 2002. Retrieved 4 November 2012. Besides, they are often called on for weddings ceremonies. On several occasions, soloists of Les Pastoureaux have taken part in opera productions, at the National Opera of Belgium La Monnaie and abroad.

They represented Belgium at the Eurovision Choir of the Year 2017 in Riga, Latvia.

Directors 1974–2006: Bernard Pagnier 2006–2024: Philippe Favette 2024: Philippe Favette and Xavier Devillers 2025–: Xavier Devillers

Summer tours Since 1980, Les Pastoureaux travel on a two-three week international concert tour during summer. They've been to Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United States.

Discography

Les Pastoureaux. Petits Chanteurs de Waterloo (LP, 1979) Mozart, Buxtehude, Haendel, Haydn (LP, 1981) Les Pastoureaux. Petits Chanteurs de Waterloo (LP, 1983) Noël c'est l'Amour (LP, 1984) Schubert, Mozart, Buxtehude (LP, 1987) Haydn: Nelson Mass, Schubert: Mass in G Major D 167 (Soleil Levant) Mozart: Requiem (Soleil Levant 1991) Chants de Noël (Soleil Levant 1992) Christmas in Waterloo (Syrinx Record 1994) Mozart: Coronation Mass KV 317, Solemn Vespers of the Confessor KV 339 (Soleil Levant 1997) Les Pastoureaux en tournée (Soleil Levant 1999) Les Pastoureaux. Petits Chanteurs de Waterloo (for the choir's 30th birthday, Soleil Levant 2005) Llibre Vermell de Montserrat (with the early-music instrumental ensemble Millenarium, Psallentes and the Chœur de chambre de Namur, Ricercar 2007) For the Beauty of the Earth (2012) Around the World (2014) Fauré: Requiem (2017) Noël! (2019) Vivaldi: Gloria RV 589, Dixit Dominus RV 595 (with the Millenium Orchestra, 2022)

Les Pastoureaux

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