Ochote Ozenki

An ochote is a small, male voice chamber choir, formed by eight singers("ochote" comes from the Spanish word "ocho", eight) divided into four voices: first and second tenors, baritones and basses.

The ochotes first appeared in the early thirties in the bars of the Basque Country and were formed to provide music for local fiestas. In addition to popular songs, some of them began to include polyphonic and religious works in their repertoire. The quality of these small choral societies reached such high levels that major competitions where held in the Basque Country attaining their greatest splendour in the sixties.

In 1983 a group of young men from San Sebastián founded the OZENKI Ochote with the aim of reviving this choral tradition which at that time was slowing falling into oblivion. Since then, besides performing the classical repertoire of the ochotes, OZENKI has offeres classical polyphonic concerts, religious music and Negro spirituals, even singing opera together with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Basque Country at the San Sebastián Musical Fortnight.