The Friulian word “Panarie”, adopted by the chorus as its name, means “cupboard,” and was an essential piece of furniture in a traditional Friulian kitchen. As its name suggests, the chorus is dedicated to keeping alive the soul of popular Friulian culture as expressed in traditional songs.
In over thirty years of activity, these intentions have evolved to other musical genres including some of the most significant passages of a baroque or classic repertory, often with orchestral accompaniment. And so they have come to perform passages from the opera “Dido and Aeneas” by Henry Purcell, “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Christoph Willibald Gluck, along with many religious compositions by Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Franz Joseph Haydn.
Not to mention Romantic or contemporary pieces such as Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. The chorus played an active part in the recording of the rock opera “Abraham” by Quasar Lux Symphoniae group and performed the silent movie soundtrack for Carl Theodor Dreyaer's 1928 masterpiece “Passion de Jeanne d’Arc,” composed by Paolo Paroni and Klaus Gesing.
Beyond its normal concert season activity the chorus has had the opportunity to be part of unusual projects, collaborating with professionals of the likes of film director Ugo Gregoretti (directing “Una Favola per Caso”), with the Friulian composer Renato Miani (“Cantata Profana”) and with the singer Milva (“La Variante di Luneburg,” words by Paolo Maurensig and music by Valter Sivilotti).
Since 1990 the chorus Panarie has been conducted by Maestro Paolo Paroni.