Patron: His Majesty King Charles III
Chorus Master: Gavin Carr
Accompanist: Timothy End
Arts Council England
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    Marin Alsop conducts Bernstein's Chichester Psalms

    On Thursday 24 April the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a performance of Bernstein's Chichester Psalms at the Royal Festival Hall with the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop. The solos were performed by treble Hugo Walkom, and four members of the Chorus - soprano Jocelyn Coates, mezzo-soprano Rhian Davies, tenor James Hutchings and baritone Christian Andreas.

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    Schoenberg and Shostakovich in Lille and Paris

    On Sunday 16 March the basses of the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a performance of Schoenberg's A Survivor from Warsaw and Shostakovich's Symphony No.13 'Babi Yar' in the Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle in Lille. The Chorus joined the Orchestre National de Lille, narrator Lambert Wilson, and bass Dmitry Belosselskiy. The performance was conducted by Joshua Weilerstein.

    The concert was repeated on Monday 17 March in the Philharmonie de Paris, and was relayed live by Radio France. It was the Chorus's debut in the Philharmonie de Paris.

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    Ein deutsches Requiem in the Chapel of King's College Cambridge

    On Good Friday 18 April, the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a performance of Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem in the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge. The Chorus joined soprano Sophie Bevan, baritone Gareth Brynmor John, and the BBC Concert Orchestra. The performance was conducted by Daniel Hyde, and was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. It can be heard on BBC Sounds until 18 May.

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    Riccardo Muti conducts Verdi's Messa da Requiem

    On Thursday 27 March, the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a performance of Verdi's Messa da Requiem with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, London. The Chorus joined soprano Marie Lys, mezzo-soprano Elīna Garanča, tenor Piotr Beczała and bass William Thomas, and the performance was conducted by Riccardo Muti.

    Riccardo Muti is acknowledged as one of the world's leading interpreters of Verdi, and one of the great conductors of our time. As the Philharmonia prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary, his much-anticipated return of their former musical director is one of the highlights of London's musical calendar.

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    Gladiator Live

    The original 2000 sword-and-sandals epic Gladiator returned to the Royal Albert Hall for a special 25th anniversary screening with live orchestra. The Philharmonia Chorus took part in four showings on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April of the legendary and five-time Academy Award-winning film on the big screen, with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Timothy Henty, performing Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard's Golden Globe-winning score live on stage.

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    The Rest is History: Mozart and Beethoven with live orchestra

    On Friday 18 October, the world's most popular history podcast, The Rest Is History, came to the Royal Albert Hall on stage with a full orchestra and chorus. Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook took a deep dive into the lives and times of two of history's greatest composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven.

    From the spectre of the French Revolution looming over Mozart's final years, to the Napoleonic wars, which served as great inspiration to Beethoven, Tom and Dominic brought to life the stories of these two musical geniuses. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Philharmonia Chorus were conducted by Oliver Zeffman.

    The concert can now be heard as two podcasts - Podcast No.526, Mozart: History's Greatest Prodigy and Podcast No.527, Beethoven: Napoleon and the Music of War, is available here.

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    Debussy at the Proms

    On Tuesday August 1, the sopranos and altos of the Philharmonia Chorus took part in Prom 17, in a performance of Debussy's Sirènes, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko at the 2024 BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London. The performance was relayed live on BBC Radio 3.

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    Handel's Messiah at the Proms

    The culmination of the Proms 2024 Choral Day, Saturday 7 September, was a performance of Handel's Messiah (Mozart orchestration), with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by John Butt. The Philharmonia Chorus was joined by soprano Nardus Williams, mezzo-soprano Helen Charleston, tenor Benjamin Hulett, bass Ashley Riches, the Fourth Choir, the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, the LYC Chamber Choir, the Bath Minerva Choir, and the Voices of the River's Edge. The performance was relayed live on BBC Radio 3.

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    Rachmaninov The Bells with Vasily Petrenko
    Recording to be issued by Harmonia Mundi

    On Thursday 11 April, the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a performance of Rachmaninov's The Bells at the Royal Festival Hall. The Chorus joined soprano Mirjam Mesak, tenor Pavel Petrov, bass Andrii Kymach, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance was conducted by Vasily Petrenko.

    The concert was recorded, and the recording will be the first to be issued under the new partnership between the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Harmonia Mundi. It is expected to be available in Novem

    Photograph: Chris Chistodoulou

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    La Bohème in Lille

    At 20.00 on 4 and 5 July, the Philharmonia Chorus took part in two semi-staged performances of Puccini's La Bohème with the Orchestre National de Lille conducted by Alexandre Bloch. A stellar cast was led by Nicole Car as Mimi and Pene Pati as Rodolfo.

Concerts

7:00pm Thursday 15 May 2025

Anna Lapwood plays Max Richter, Hans Zimmer and more

Hans Zimmer - Chevaliers de Sangreal from The Da Vinci Code
Max Richter - Cosmology - world première

Anna Lapwood - organ

Philharmonia Chorus
Chorus Master - Gavin Carr

Philharmonia Orchestra
conducted by André de Ridder

Royal Albert Hall, London

7:30pm Thursday 14 August 2025

Hisaishi - The End of the World

BBC Singers

Philharmonia Chorus
Chorus Master - Gavin Carr

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Joe Hisaishi

BBC Prom Concert

BBC Radio 3 live relay

Royal Albert Hall, London

7:30pm Tuesday 21 October 2025

Bernstein - Chichester Psalms

Philharmonia Chorus
Chorus Master - Gavin Carr

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Vasily Petrenko

Royal Albert Hall, London

7:30pm Thursday 19 March 2026

Hildegard of Bingen - O vis aeternitatis
Mahler - Symphony No.2 'Resurrection'

Soloists - TBC

Philharmonia Chorus
Chorus Master - Gavin Carr

Philharmonia Orchestra
conducted by Kent Nagano

Royal Festival Hall, London

7:30pm Sunday 17 May 2026

Taneyev - John of Damascus

Philharmonia Chorus
Chorus Master - Gavin Carr

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
conducted by Vasily Petrenko

Royal Festival Hall, London

Recent Reviews

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Zimmer/Gerrard - Gladiator Live
Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Timothy Henty


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The Philharmonia Chorus add depth and atmosphere that re-enforces the innate the mood of the film's ancient Roman setting, providing a sense of grandeur and majesty.
Aliya Al-Hassan, Broadway World, 26 April 2025

....as you witness the Philharmonia Chorus standing up and down at points to sing the glorious and riveting score, see the percussion section move back and forth in between the dozens (yes, dozens!) of different instruments, ranging from the tambor-tom-beck, tombo (a much richer bass drum), and classic drum-kit, as well as witness the first cellist play the all-too well-known and one of my all time favourite cello themes, you do realize that this is much more than simply a movie with some live music - it is a production of epic proportions. It never ceases to amaze me how in sync the musicians and vocalists are with the film, never missing a beat during the whole two and a half hour screen-time. At some points, you forget that you are even listening to a live concert - your brain reverts back to thinking the music is simply a recording.
esandin15, ayoungishperspective.co.uk, 28 April 2025

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Bernstein - Chichester Psalms
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop
Royal Festival Hall, London


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The Philharmonia Chorus blended beautifully in Bernstein's plush polyphony
Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack, 25 April 2025

The Philharmonia Chorus sounded like professionals as they launched into their "Urah, hanevel"s
David Nice, The Arts Desk, 26 April 2025

It took off with panache and the Philharmonia Chorus found electrifying precision in the cross rhythms. Moreover the Philharmonia Chorus solists did a grand job as did the cello quartet. It was, overall, a powerful performance of a splendid work.
Susan Elkin, susanelkin.co.uk, 26 April 2025


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Verdi - Messa da Requiem
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Riccardo Muti
Royal Festival Hall, London


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Every time the screaming descent of the Dies irae recurred, with the percussionist thwacking two mighty drums at once, the thrilling attack of the Philharmonia Chorus hit you between the eyes. And the choristers were just as effective, in a very different way, in the Requiem's hushed opening and the whispered chants at the end, which were sepulchral and chilling.
Richard Morrison, The Times, 28 March 2025

The orchestra and chorus were on great form, not just in the tremendous Dies Irae where the percussionist thwacked two bass drums simultaneously, with a sound that was like the earth cracking but in the quieter moments. The oboe's pathetic outcries in the Ingemisco ("I groan") section were heart-rending, and the chorus were equally strong in the dancing Sanctus the one moment of joy and optimism and in the massive Libera Me that ends the work.
Ivan Hewett, Telegraph, 28 March 2025

The Chorus in particular, and director Gavin Carr, had a night to savour: glittering in razor-edged entries; earth-moving in the savage eruptions of the Dies irae but (in contrast) airborne, angelic and even playful in the Sanctus. From the boom of the Rex tremendae to the hush of the Agnus dei, they commanded each rung on the Verdian ladder of sound and sense that stretches from earth to heaven then down to the brink of the inferno.
Boyd Tonkin, The Arts Desk, 28 March 2025

The Philharmonia Chorus were on top form: crisp diction, precise and agile at top and bottom, deeply responsive to the podium.
Dominic Lowe, Bachtrack, 28 March 2025

The chorus were first class, from the hushed unaccompanied opening 'Requiem aeternam' to the hurled out 'Dies irae'. Muti had clearly been working on them to clearly pronounce certain important words such as 'calamitatis'. I admired, in particular, the intonation of the sopranos on their high notes and the mellow weight of the alto section. The men came strongly to the fore in an overwhelming 'Tuba mirum' and shook away the cobwebs with a forceful 'Rex tremendae', though having them stand right on their first note did not make their job easy.
John Rhodes, Seen and Heard International, 28 March 2025

The opening 'Introit and Kyrie' was taken slowly, but what was so beautiful about it was the extreme dynamic shading of it: at times the Philharmonia were almost inaudible, the choir breathtaking as if floating above the line. The Dies Irae arrived with shocking power - Muti's downbeat as powerful and fast as I ever heard it done in concert, the first 'd' on the 'Dies' from the chorus hammered down like one vast nail. The choral singing was absolutely first rate: a superlative 'Tuba Mirum', gorgeous altos throughout, and a memorable 'Rex tremendae'.
Marc Bridle, opertoday.com, 31 March 2025

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Schoenberg - A Survivor from Warsaw
Shostakovich - Symphony No.13 'Babi Yar'
Orchestre National de Lille conducted by Joshua Weilerstein
Auditorium du Nouveau Siècle, Lille
Philharmonie de Paris


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L'autre grande réussite de ce concert est celle des voix. Que ce soit la performance de la basse Dmitry Belosselskiy, au chant profond et impressionnant. Ou encore l'excellence de la formation britannique du Philharmonia Chorus. La parole est ici essentielle, fièrement portée par un soliste et des chœurs en osmose. Un impressionnant moment d'orchestre et de chant.

The other great achievement of this concert is the vocals. Whether it's the performance of bass Dmitry Belosselskiy, with his deep and impressive singing, or the excellence of the British Philharmonia Chorus. The spoken word is essential here, proudly carried by a soloist and choirs in perfect harmony. An impressive moment of orchestral and vocal performance.
Jean-Marc Petit, resmusica.com, 17 March 2025


Joshua Weilerstein, l'Orchestre National de Lille et le Philharmonia Chorus donnent tout et font corps avec la musique écrasante et dévastatrice qui dénonce avec flamme et courage la haine de juifs, de l'humiliation de Dreyfus à la terreur des pogroms et de la barbarie nazie.

Joshua Weilerstein, the Orchestre National de Lille and the Philharmonia Chorus give their all and become one with the overwhelming and devastating music that denounces with passion and courage the hatred of Jews, from the humiliation of Dreyfus to the terror of the pogroms and Nazi barbarity.
Hannah Starman, cult.news, 17 March 2025


Le flux vocal, source de toutes les dénonciations, exhortations, compassion, est superbement tenu par le narrateur chanteur ukrainien Dmitry Belosselskiy. Basse ample et caverneuse, souvent en dialogue ou associée au chœur d'hommes (impeccable Philharmonia Chorus préparé par son chef, Gavin Carr), le soliste réalise une trajectoire à la fois sobre, expressive, pleine de noblesse, exhortant à la fraternité. Le programme est repris ce soir à La Philharmonie de Paris : incontournable.

The vocal flow, the source of all the denunciations, exhortations, and compassion, is superbly conveyed by the Ukrainian singer-narrator Dmitry Belosselskiy. A full and cavernous bass, often in dialogue or associated with the male choir (the impeccable Philharmonia Chorus prepared by its chorus master, Gavin Carr), the soloist achieves a trajectory that is at once sober, expressive, and full of nobility, urging brotherhood. The program is repeated this evening at the Philharmonie de Paris: unmissable.
Alexandre Pham, classique news.com, 17 March 2025


Le Philharmonia Chorus renouvelle la prestation admirable entendue chez Schönberg : plénitude et puissance du chant, qualité intrinsèque des pupitres au sein d'un bloc d'une grande unité, couleurs et nuances.

The Philharmonia Chorus renews the admirable performance heard in Schönberg: fullness and power of the singing, intrinsic quality of the sections within a block of great unity, colors and nuances.
Rémy Louis, diapasonmag.fr, 19 March 2025


Quand le Philharmonia Chorus entame le poème juif, les cuivres bouillonnent encore mais les voix les dominent bientôt avec ferveur. La qualité du chœur d'hommes fera également partie de la réussite de la Symphonie n° 13 de Chostakovitch ensuite. Apparaissant toujours équilibré avec une sonorité ronde et une diction précise, il se tuile aisément avec les pupitres de bassons, de contrebasses et de cuivres graves.

When the Philharmonia Chorus begins the Jewish poem, the brass is still seething, but the voices soon dominate with fervor. The quality of the male choir would also be part of the success of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 13. Always balanced, with a rounded sound and precise diction, it easily meshes with the bassoon, double bass, and low brass sections.
Chloë Rouge, bachtrack.com, 18 March 2025

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Mahler - Symphony No.2 'Resurrection'
Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Nefeli Chadouli
Bold Tendencies, Peckham


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'The choir, here 100 strong, standing behind the audience, their sound floating up invisibly, sings "Aufersteh'n (arise) with soft, utmost serenity. The whole performance could not have been more intense.'
Fiona Maddocks, The Observer, 21 September 2024

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Handel - Messiah
Academy of St Martin in the Fields conducted by John Butt
Royal Albert Hall, London


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Prom 65 - Choral Day review
The Philharmonia Chorus were the main participants, reliable in fugal complexities and fast runs.
David Nice, The Arts Desk, 8 September 2024