Some words about us

Ars Cantus" Association was founded on December, 10^th 1987 in Varese.

"It is intended to expand and diffuse the values of Classical Music, particularly the Italian and Sacred one; the values of the artistic/musical training of the youth inside the school and the society. Such aims are pursued promoting all the possible conctacts and collaborations both with public institutions than with religious ones. The Association realizes these aims by its Chorus and its Orchestra, both composed by young people; by the presentation of Chorus and Orchestra, privileging a young public; providing its technical abilities where needed, paying particular attention to the other chorus working on the territory". (from section n°3 of the Memorandum).

A basic rule inside "Ars Cantus" Chorus and Orchestra is played by being with others, to create a context wherein the values of the Music performed can lively stand out and be recognized by the audience.

The Association actually consists of more than 170 members, so divided :

• Treble Voices Chorus, composed by some 20 children, from 6 to 16, coming from the province of Varese;
• Symphony Chorus, composed by more than 70 people (men and women), average age 29, coming from the province of Varese;
• Symphony Orchestra, constituted by 80 players, average age 26, coming from the provinces of Varese, Milano, Como, Bergamo and Pavia. Many of them co-operate with other Italian and foreign Orchestras.

Although "Ars Cantus" Chorus and Orchestra only exists for 11 years, It has already performed 220 concerts, in Italy and Switzerland and it has also been filmed by RAI and many other Radio and TV Networks. A great crowd and a large consense of both audience and music critic was always found out, consequently many Cities and Institutions regularly invite It.

"Ars Cantus" Group released a live-recording CD, recorded in the Cathedrals of Massa and Pontremoli by "Tirreno" label, seated in Lugano. The CD contains Beethoven’s "Fifth Symphony" and Angelo Bellisario’s "Cantico di Papa Giovanni XXIII", which was specially written for "Ars Cantus" and performed, first, by the Group in 1993 in Sotto il Monte, on the occasion of the celebrations in remembrance of the thirty-years Pope’s death.

In 1997, to celebrate the ten-years anniversary since the Association’s foundation, "Ars Cantus" released a Videotape, recorded live too, including Beethoven’s "Ninth Symphony" and a didactic poster showing the disposition of Chorus and Orchestra’s sections. In 1998 and 1999 a live-recording cassette and a CD were also published, containing the pieces performed during the Christmas period’s concerts.
On the occasion of the Great Jubilee (of the year 2000) "Ars Cantus" has been invited by the Vatican Commitee to perform 2 of the 57 official concerts. They will took place on 13 May in S.Maria sopra Minerva and on 14 May in S. Maria Maggiore.

Giovanni Tenti was born in 1961; he attained the General Certificate of Education in 1980 and he graduated in "Piano" in 1981 with Maestros Cesare Castellani and Ugo Amadei; in 1986 he got a diploma in "Organ and Organistic Composition" with Maestros Gianfranco Spinelli, Maria Cecilia Farina, Claudio Riva and Luigi Benedetti and in "Choral Music and Chorus Conduction" with Maestro Franco Monego. In 1989 he graduated in "Composition" with Maestro Angelo Bellisario. All these diplomas were achieved to "Giuseppe Verdi" Academy of Music in Milan. Moreover he practiced Orchestral Conduction with Maestro Leonardo Taschera.