Mouezh Paotred Breizh

Choeur d'hommes de Bretagne

Crédit photo: Ancre digitale - 35 Cancale

A human adventure

For nearly 30 years, this has been the story of a group of friends, proud to be Breton, deeply rooted in their Brittany and united by a shared passion for polyphonic choral singing.

It's also the story of a commitment to Breton culture: its language, its history, its heritage, its beliefs, its poets and musicians, its landscapes and the sea, never far away. A living culture, open to the world, combining tradition and modernity.

Finally, it's a story of sharing with the public. The men's voices, sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful, invite fervour, emotion and enthusiasm. They are always an invitation to travel.

An international cradle

In 1993, "The World Choir", an association of Welsh, English, Canadian and Australian men's choirs, issued an invitation to create a men's choir in Brittany to take part in a major gathering the following year.

In a region where there is no tradition of men's choirs, the invitation was a real challenge. Under the impetus of Jean-Marie Airault and Jean-Pierre Prémel, a group of around thirty singers from Brittany's mixed choirs got together, worked hard for a few months and succeeded in preparing a programme and representing Brittany in Atlanta (USA) in 1994.

t was an exciting experience with a promising future: on their return, the participants decided to perpetuate the group's existence. Thus was born the Choeur d'Hommes de Bretagne, which took the official name of "Mouezh Paotred Breizh", the voice of the men of Brittany.

A 100% Breton DNA

Singing, dancing, music and storytelling tell stories and punctuate important moments in life. The Breton language is a rich and powerful part of our identity.

Breton and open to the world: through its travels, in France and abroad, through its encounters, the choir aims to be an ambassador for Brittany, singing with pride of its history, its land, its language, its beliefs and its convictions.

Tradition and modernity

The choir's repertoire is largely made up of traditional songs from Brittany and Wales. It honours Breton authors, poets and translators, and gives pride of place to the region's finest composers and arrangers.

While remaining true to tradition, it also embraces modernity by welcoming the work of young composers and songwriters.

A unique feature

Since its creation, more than 130 singers have contributed to the choir's development, each in their own way, with talent and enthusiasm. Today, the fifty or so singers and musicians are carrying on the work of their elders with the same determination. What they have in common is that they all come from the 4 corners of Brittany, or rather the 5 departments of historic Brittany...

A reference

In just over 30 years, Mouezh Paotred Breizh has patiently worked its way up the ranks to become a benchmark for quality Breton choral singing. Every year, they give around fifteen concerts throughout Brittany (including at the Festival de Cournouaille in Quimper and the Festival Interceltique de Lorient), as well as in Paris and the Paris region, Alsace, the Basque country, Lyon, Touraine, Lorraine, Béarn and the Vosges. They also tour abroad, playing in Wales, Ireland, Asturias, Latvia, the Czech Republic, England, Switzerland, Italy, Scotland and Poland.

Brittany champion

Every year, Mouezh Paotred Breizh takes part in the Brittany Championship for Breton-speaking choirs, organised by the Fédération Kanomp Breizh as part of the Kan al Loar Festival in Landerneau.

n 2003, the choir won the Prix de la Création for its cantata "Kan glaz ar sklerijen".

In 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022, it was awarded the title of Champion de Bretagne (1st category).

Acknowledgements:

The Conseil de Bretagne, the Town of Carhaix and France Bleu Breizh Izel support Mouezh Paotred Breizh.