The Chorus

The Philharmonia Chorus was founded by Walter Legge in 1957 to record Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Philharmonia Orchestra under Otto Klemperer, and quickly established itself as one of Europe’s premier choruses, working with the leading conductors of the time. That tradition continues today. Highlights during the past decade have included performances of Verdi’s Requiem with both Valery Gergiev and Riccardo Muti, Rachmaninov’s The Bells with Vladimir Jurowski, Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Sir Charles Mackerras and Lohengrin and Der Freischütz at the Edinburgh Festival.

During the last two years alone the Chorus’s repertory has encompassed a series of operas including Der fliegende Holländer and Die Fledermaus, Mahler’s Second Symphony with the Philharmonia Orchestra, James MacMillan’s St John Passion, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, performed in London and on tour in Spain with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and music for the BBC television series Merlin.

We often perform at the London's Royal Festival and Royal Albert Halls, and at leading venues around the UK and occasionally abroad.

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. We also have a Professional Singers Scheme, which provides a pool of professional singers in the first 10 years of their careers who join with the amateur members for the final rehearsals and concerts. This structure generates the high quality sound of the Chorus for which it is famous.

The Chorus Master of the Philharmonia Chorus is Stefan Bevier, and Deborah Miles-Johnson is the Associate Chorus Master.

The Chorus is a Registered Charity, No. 250495.