Sir Jeffrey Tate
1943 - 2017

We are immensely saddened to hear of the death of the Chorus's President, Sir Jeffrey Tate. Sir Jeffrey sang as a member of the Philharmonia Chorus when he was a student in London in the 1960s. He had a long and distinguished career as both a symphonic and opera conductor, appearing in all the major opera houses of the world. Earlier this year, in the opening festival of Hamburg's new Elbphilharmonie, we were honoured to be conducted by Sir Jeffrey in a performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, a work he had first encountered in the Chorus under the baton of Otto Klemperer. The Philharmonia Chorus has lost its President, and a great friend.