The history of the ensemble dates back to 1936, when two major national institutions were established in Moscow: the State Symphony Orchestra and the State Choral Chapel, which later became the USSR State Choir. The ensemble’s first Artistic Director was Nikolai Danilin, the most authoritative choral conductor of his time. The last choirmaster of the Moscow Synodal Choir, Danilin was the first conductor to perform Sergei Rachmaninoff’s choral masterpieces Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and All-Night Vigil.

Danilin conducted the ensemble’s first competitive audition. The choir was also joined by singers from the All-Union Radio Choral Chapel, founded by Alexander Sveshnikov in 1928. As Danilin simultaneously served as Artistic Director of the Leningrad Choral Chapel, the ensemble’s first concert took place on February 26, 1937, in the Hall of Columns of the House of Unions, conducted by Alexander Sveshnikov.

Soon afterwards, the leadership of the country’s leading choral ensembles was reshuffled: Sveshnikov was transferred to the Leningrad Choral Chapel, while Danilin became Artistic Director of the State Choir, a position he held for the following two seasons.

From 1941 to 1980, the choir was led by Alexander Sveshnikov, one of the most influential figures in Soviet choral music. In 1942, the ensemble was renamed the State Russian Song Choir. During the Great Patriotic War, the choir gave dozens of concerts both on the home front and for military units, performing in cities immediately after their liberation. In 1945, the State Choir performed for Soviet Army troops in Berlin, Prague, Vienna, and Budapest. In 1955, the ensemble was renamed once again, becoming the USSR State Academic Russian Choir.

During Alexander Sveshnikov’s tenure, the State Choir was distinguished by an exceptionally broad repertoire. Dmitri Shostakovich, Georgy Sviridov, Rodion Shchedrin, and other leading Soviet composers entrusted the choir with the premieres of their works. Alongside arrangements of folk songs and works by Russian and Soviet composers, Western European music held an important place in the ensemble’s repertoire.

In the post-war years, the choir’s repertoire expanded to include works by Renaissance masters Palestrina and Lassus, as well as music by Baroque composers including Monteverdi, Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Jommelli, and Lotti. In the 1970s, the State Choir performed Bach’s Mass in B minor under the direction of Helmuth Rilling.

Among the ensemble’s extensive archive of recordings, a special place is occupied by the 1965 recording of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil.

Following the death of Alexander Sveshnikov, the legendary choir was led by a succession of distinguished choral conductors: Igor Agafonnikov (1980–1987), Vladimir Minin (1987–1990), Evgeny Tytianко (1991–1995), Igor Raevsky (1995–2007), Boris Tevlin (2008–2012), Evgeny Volkov (2012–2019), and Gennady Dmitryak (2020–2024). Since the 2024/25 season, the ensemble has been led by Ekaterina Antonenko.

The State Choir has participated in major national events and significant musical celebrations at the highest level. The ensemble took part in commemorations of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’. Today, the choir regularly participates in the Days of Slavic Writing and Culture, the Moscow Easter Festival, and other major cultural events.

The State Choir presents solo programs at the country’s leading concert venues and collaborates with Russia’s foremost orchestras. The ensemble has performed with many outstanding conductors of our time, including Christoph Eschenbach, Teodor Currentzis, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Fedoseev, Yuri Simonov, Mikhail Pletnev, Vladimir Jurowski, Alexander Sladkovsky, and Alexander Rudin.