A choir and orchestra were formed by the order of the Austrian emperor, and on 10th January 1723 debuted at the opening and blessing of the Oradea cathedral. For more than 295 years the choir sings at the Sunday Latin mass and at the Pontifical mass on Feast days, too. During its long history famous conductors worked with the choir such as Michael Haydn, Karl Ditters von Dittersdorf and Kersch Ferenc. In the choirs’ repertoire you can find Gregorian, renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and contemporary works. In 1993 as part of a German concert tour, they performed with great success in the Bamberg and the Passau Cathedrals. They held many concerts throughout Europe: 2014 Salzburg and Passau, 2016 Kosice etc.

Kristófi János (b. 1965) is the conductor of the choir from 2011. He also works as a organist of the Roman-Catholic Cathedral. After finishing his university studies at Liszt Ferenc Music Academy, he started his teaching career at the Partium Christian University, where now he is a full time professor.

Oradea, famous for its thermal springs, is located in the North-West of Romania. It was founded in the 11th c. by St. King Ladislaus I of Hungary. Destroyed in the 17th c. by the Turks, it was rebuilt in the 18th c. The cathedral and the bishop’s palace in baroque style are famous landmarks of the city.