Auroville Choir

Conductor and composer Eugeen Liven d’Abelardo passed away in Laren, the Netherlands on 18 August at the age of 75. Along with his impressive musical career, he was also known to be an enjoyer of life.

On 15 and 16 February, the Auroville Choir, conducted by Nuria, presented songs composed by Ola Gjeilo, Elaine Hagenberg, James Eakin, Eric Whitacre, Jacob Narverud, Don Macdonald, Christopher Tin and Jake Runestad.

Auroras Eye Films (an Auroville unit) recently produced a documentary celebrating 30 years of the Auroville Choir. The film can be seen at

On December 10 and 11 the Auroville Choir, led by Nuria, presented an evening of a cappella ‘Spirituals and Gospel Songs’. These originated predominantly in the American South and emerged through the African American community’s experience and response to slavery and discrimination.

Special events are celebrated in all parts of the world. Have you ever been in a big city, like Paris or London, when they are celebrating something like Christmas or the New Year?

Marco joined Auroville 22 years ago. He reflects here on his many and varied activities, most of which are shaped by a love of the arts.

The month of February is culture month par excellence. Auroville Today selected three performances and one exhibition for a brief review - acknowledging that many other events deserved to be reviewed as well.

On two successive evenings in March the combined Auroville adult and youth choirs – 78 singers in all – accompanied by an instrumental ensemble presented a collection of songs from The Peacemakers at the Sri Aurobindo Auditorium in Bharat Nivas.

On March 1st, 2015, the Auroville Festival in Chennai was launched at the ITC Grand Chola by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, His Excellency Dr. K.

With over 210 participating Aurovilians, the Auroville Singing Festival 2014 was doubtless the year’s largest cultural event. Spread over two evenings in October, with Bharat Nivas auditorium bursting at its seams, more than 36 groups and soloists showed their talents.