About us

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Founded in Strasbourg, France, in November 1996 as « Ensemble Vocal de Musiques Hébraïques », our choir has been developing its activities under the aegis of the University of Strasbourg,  Department of Jewish and Hebraic Studies, during the first twelve years of its existence.

In 2003, the choir established as an association under local law (Alsace - Moselle) and chose to perform as « Les Polyphonies Hébraïques de Strasbourg (PHS) ».

The choir, directed by Hector SABO, includes about 50 members of all origin and religion, and is trained by highly musically experienced section heads. Its project is to spread the knowledge of this rich jewish music, be it sacred or not.

The repertoire of the Polyphonies Hébraïques de Strasbourg includes traditional choral pieces, jewish ashkenazi liturgy of the XIXth and XXth centuries, jewish-italian  madrigals of the XVIIth, jewish-spanish (sefardic) folklore, and israeli songs, specially arranged for a mixed choir.

Thanks to each member’s personal contribution to a common passion, the reputation of the Polyphonies Hébraïques de Strasbourg keeps on growing over the years. With its participation in concerts and festivals of prestige, the choir gathers a constantly increasing audience, as well in France as abroad.
 

The Polyphonies Hébraïques de Strasbourg have thus been invited, among others, to :

• The first edition of the Louis Lewandowski Festival in Berlin (December 2011)

• The Festival «  Sacrées Journées de Strasbourg » in 2013, 2014, and in 2015 with a concert at the Great Mosque of Strasbourg

• The European competition of choral song under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of Luxemburg (2014)

• The commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the Camps’ Liberation, Conservatoire of Music of Strasbourg (2015)

• A shared concert with the Zemel Choir of London, London (2016)

• The fifth edition of the European Festival of Jewish Music and choral Song in Saint Petersburg (2017).
   

And last but not least, our choir has been invited in 2015 by Jean-François Bernardini, founder of « I Muvrini », the famous vocal ensemble of Corsican polyphonies, to participate in the recording of « O Isma », a song included in their CD « Invicta ». This song has become their leading titel.