The Choir of the Serbian National Theatre Opera is well known after its high artistic qualities. Since the Choir first appeared in premiere of Verdi’s La Traviata on November 16^th 1947, that date is designated as the date of its foundation. The first Opera conductor, Professor Vojislav Ilić, built its physiognomy. Later conductors and co-repetitious have given their contribution to maintaining and advancing its artistic level: Milutin Ružic, Ladislav Perldik, Vladimir Topolković, Mira Gligić, Ljiljana Krdžalić, Angelina Stefanović, Viktor Šafranek, Berislav Skenderović, Boris Černogubov, Eugen Gvozdanović, Juraj Ferik, Natalija Arefjeva, Vesna Kesić Krsmanović.

From 1980 to 1989, at the initiative of the members of the Choir and conductor Juraj Ferik, the Chamber Choir of the Music Center of Vojvodina operated with the aim of presenting works of vocal-instrumental music from various eras, from the vocal polyphony of the 16^th century, through the Baroque, to contemporary Yugoslav vocal music. Since 1996, members of the Opera Choir, who have excelled in the field of spiritual music, have gathered in the Male Chamber Choir and captivated the audience with their rich concert activity. Their repertoire includes liturgies, primarily by domestic authors, so the first performance of Josif Marinković’s Liturgy is particularly significant.

Professional critics regularly highlight the artistic qualities of the Choir comparing it to other ensembles in our region, almost always giving priority to this ensemble, emphasizing its “practice, good vocal technique and dynamic nuance, along with a juicy and portable, fresh sound”. Almost each year the Choir was rewarded with prizes of Serbian National Theatre for extraordinarily presentation on home stage and abroad, with a repertoire of international and national opera heritage, operettas, choral music and numerous concert. Among the recently significant international performances of the Choir participation, the following showing are notable: “Days of Mokranjac” (Negotin, 2015), “Purgatorie” (Tivat, 2016), at the Opera Al Bustan Festival (Beirut, 2017), “Armel” Opera festival (Budapest, 2018).

The Choir currently has over 70 (male and female) members. Vesna Kesić Krsmanović has been conducting the Choir for more than 35 years.