Reviews
Walton - Belshazzar's Feast
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Edward Gardner
Royal Festival Hall, London, 5 November 2017
The surtitles were not entirely necessary, as virtually every word could be heard from this wonderful body of singers.
Robert Matthew-Walker, www.classicalsource.com, 6 November 2017
The Chorus is celebrating its sixtieth anniversary this season: the original 1957 body of singers set new standards in its day, and on this evidence standards are again very high under the leadership of the current Chorus Master Stefan Bevier. The quality of singing in Belshazzar's Feast was in fact wonderfully high, both technically and in terms of tone quality.
Alan Sanders, www.seenandheard-international.com, 6 November 2017
The choir rewarded Gardner with with singing as poetic in By the Waters of Babylon as it was punchy in the terrifying cry of 'Slain'.
Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times, 19 November 2017
Elgar - The Dream of Gerontius
Symphoniker Hamburg conducted by Paul McCreesh
Kloster Eberbach, Eltville, 2 September 2017
The Philharmonia Chorus was the star of the evening. The chorus of around a hundred men's and women's voices pulled out all the stops, sounding now celestially transported, now devilishly sinister. The top symphony chorus from London, guests for the first time at the Rheingau Music Festival, gave us goose pimples with their piano and their forte had powerfully resonating energy. Together with the orchestra they created an unparalleled apotheosis of sound. Long, refreshing applause from the enthusiastic audience.
Manfred Mertz, Gießener Allgemeine Zeitung, 3 September 2017
Supremely good were the Symphoniker Hamburg and the powerful Philharmonia Chorus from London.
Bernhard Uske, Frankfurter Rundschau, 9 September 2017
Music from the English Musical Renaissance
Marktkirche, Wiesbaden, 31 August 2017
'...Vaughan Williams' Te Deum set the direction towards total vocal magnificence'.
Axel Zibulski, Wiesbaden Kurier, 2 September 2017
Beethoven - Symphony No.9 'Choral'
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Benjamin ZanderRoyal Festival Hall, London, 18 March 2017
...this was singing of the highest quality, powerful, controlled, overwhelming
Anthony Hodgson, www.classicalsource.com
The Chorus was staggeringly good throughout.
Colin Clarke, http://seenandheard-international.com
Beethoven - Missa Solemnis
Hamburger Symphoniker conducted by Sir Jeffrey TateElbphilharmonie, Hamburg, 17 January 2017
Above the introductory Kyrie in his Missa Solemnis Beethoven wrote that it should speak from one heart to another. This wish was fulfilled in the first concert given by Sir Jeffrey Tate and the Hamburger Symphoniker in the Elbphilharmonie. The music sang and breathed, although often challenged by hall's to some extent problematic acoustic, obstinate and dry. It reached the soul, comforting and shattering at the same time. The rest of the audience probably felt the same – for a long time they dared not applaud, and then broke the inner tension with great waves of rejoicing. The great Philharmonia Chorus from London, a top class quartet of soloists, and the orchestra on splendid form roused overwhelming emotions.
www.welt.de, 19 January 2017
Beethoven - Missa Solemnis
Orquesta de Valencia conducted by Yaron TraubIturbi Hall, Palau de la Música, Valencia, 3 December 2016
The splendid Philharmonia Chorus marked the highest points of the night. It is precisely the choral component that is the most essential part of the work, here remarkably performed by the 110 voices of the celebrated London chorus, prepared by its director the great Stefan Bevier. They were, by far, the best thing of the concert. All their interventions moved in excellence. From the brilliant Kyrie and Gloria to the internalized and finely tuned Agnus Dei, which closes the great Beethovenian Mass, or to the ardent Credo in unum Deum, the British chorus raised quality and artistry to the highest levels.
The applause increased with deserved clamour whenever Stefan Bevier raised his exceptional chorus. What a chorus!
Justo Romero, Levante - El Mercantil Valenciano