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Philharmonia Chorus records music for third series of Merlin

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The Chorus has recorded the choral music for the third series of the BBC Arthurian fantasy series Merlin. Composer Rob Lane and chorus master Deborah Miles-Johnson presided over the sessions, which took place at The Angel Studios, Islington, London. The new series of Merlin will be screened by BBC1 on Saturday evenings from the end of September to December.

Hear the Chorus now in three excerpts from the second series of Merlin - click on 'Listen' above.


Sir Charles Mackerras
1925 - 2010

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It is with great sadness that the Chorus learned of the death of the distinguished conductor, and the Chorus’s President, Sir Charles Mackerras. The Chorus sang under his baton many times, most notably a Messiah in Orange, and the Chorus' first appearance at La Scala Milan with Handel's Judas Maccabeus. In recent years there were performances of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Mozart’s Requiem with the Philharmonia Orchestra, and in a memorable semi-staged performance of Weber’s Der Freischütz with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra at the Edinburgh International Festival. Chorus members would look forward to his engagements with keen anticipation, for they knew to expect a warm personality as well as wonderful music making. He was a galvanizing presence on the British and world musical scene, and the Chorus was immensely proud to have him as its President. He regarded the position as not merely honorary, but actively promoted the interests of the Chorus at every opportunity. We will always be grateful to him.

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Recent Reviews

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Beethoven - Symphony No.9
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conducted by Ilan Volkov
Royal Festival Hall, London, 9 April 2010
Centro Cultural Miguel Delibes, Valladolid, Spain, 11 April 2010
12 / 04 / 2010

'Best of all was the Philharmonia Chorus, which sounded refreshed and invigorated by its gutsy, period-instrument Beethoven experience.'
Richard Fairman, Financial Times, 12 April 2010

'The Philharmonia Chorus......sounded here like a choir reborn'
Richard Morrison, The Times, 13 April 2010

'The Philharmonia Chorus were on cracking form'
Martin Kettle, The Guardian, 12 April 2010

'The movement was impelled with stirring clarity......the chorus masterful'
Paul Driver, The Sunday Times, 18 April 2010

'The Philharmonia Chorus brought vibrancy, bite and panache'
Anna Picard, The Independent on Sunday, 18 April 2010

'The most outstanding contribution of the evening came from the Philharmonia Chorus who sang with pin-point accuracy and gusto throughout, and they were rightly rewarded with the biggest ovation of the evening.'
Keith McDonnell, www.musicomh.com

'Volkov supo mantener la tensión necesaria hasta la llegada del último movimiento en el que la aportación del Coro Philharmonia fue sobresaliente. Sus voces exactas en impostación, estilo y afinación, marcaron con precisión el majestuoso presto con un cuarteto de solistas exquisito en el empaste, aún con las ya sabidas dificultades en la parte de la soprano.'

'Volkov maintained the required tension until the advent of the last movement, and the contribution of the Philharmonia Chorus was outstanding. Their voices, of exact placement, style and tuning, marked the majestic presto with precision with a quartet of soloists blending exquisitely, in spite of the well-known difficulties of the soprano parts.'
Emiliano Allende, El Norte de Castilla, 13 April 2010

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Symphony No.2, Mahler (Resurrection)
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Eliahu Inbal
Royal Festival Hall, London, 11 February 2010
8 / 03 / 2010

'The barely audible “shh” of the chorus in their opening “Aufersteh’n” and “Staub” were like puffs of wind lifting the music from mere mortality and toward the light, and the cymbal stroke and harp glissando at “Was entstanden ist” was hair-raising.'

Peter Reed, www.classicalsource.com

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About the Chorus

The Philharmonia Chorus is a symphony chorus that exists to perform choral works to the highest international standard with the Philharmonia Orchestra and other orchestras of similar standing. The Chorus is based in London but also performs extensively across the UK and overseas.

The chorus comprises amateur singers drawn from all walks of life who relish the opportunity to work with the world’s finest orchestras, conductors and soloists.

The Chorus has recently launched its professional singers scheme. For more details, click here.

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Concerts

  • Sun 11 Apr 2010 7:00PM

    Symphony No.9 in D minor - Beethoven

    Rebecca Evans - soprano
    Diana Montague - mezzo-soprano
    Timothy Robinson - tenor
    Christopher Purves - bass
    Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
    conducted by Ilan Volkov

    Centro Cultural Miguel Delibes, Valladolid, Spain

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  • Sat 1 May 2010 7:30PM

    Alto Rhapsody, Brahms and Faust Symphony, Liszt

    Anna Larsson - contralto
    Peter Auty - tenor
    London Philharmonic Choir
    London Philharmonic Orchestra
    conducted by Vladimir Jurowski

    Royal Festival Hall, London

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  • Wed 18 Aug 2010 6:30PM

    Recording of music for Merlin, third series

    Angel Studios, Islington

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  • Sun 12 Dec 2010 8:00PM

    Carmina Burana

    Chamber version for two pianos and percussion
    Louise Alder - Soprano
    Peretta Anggerek - Countertenor
    Baritone tbc

    Stephen Rose and Elizabeth Burley - pianos
    Percussion ensemble from the Royal College of Music
    Conducted by Stefan Bevier

    75th Anniversary Concert of the De La Warr Pavilion

    De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex

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  • Sun 19 Dec 2010 8:00PM

    Classic Carols

    Ashley Holland - baritone

    Philharmonia Orchestra
    conducted by Ian McMillan

    Royal Albert Hall, London

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  • Mon 20 Dec 2010 7:30PM

    Christmas with King's College, Cambridge

    Gloria - Vivaldi
    and seasonal favourites

    Katherine Allen - soprano
    Sarah-Jane Brandon - soprano
    Choir of King's College, Cambridge
    Philharmonia Orchestra
    conducted by Stephen Cleobury

    Royal Albert Hall, London

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Patron: HRH The Prince of Wales . Established 1957