The Philharmonia Chorus was very proud to take part in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's 75th Anniversary Concert on Tuesday 21 September at the Royal Albert Hall. The Chorus joined bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel in a performance of Walton's Belshazzar's Feast, which was conducted by the orchestra's Music Director, Vasily Petrenko. In the first half of the concert, Sheku Kanneh-Mason played Elgar's Cello Concerto. The concert was relayed live on BBC Radio 3.

The Philharmonia Chorus has enjoyed a long and close association with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, having taken part in over 40 performances with them over the last 20 years alone. Our first concert together was on 28 September 1971, in a performance of Mahler's Second Symphony conducted by Rudolf Kempe that marked the opening of their Silver Jubilee season, so this performance of Belshazzar's Feast marked our 50th anniversary of music making with this wonderful orchestra, almost to the day.

Under the current national circumstances, it is no surprise that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has announced that the planned performances of Mahler's Second and Third Symphonies with the Philharmonia Chorus at the Royal Albert Hall in March and April will not go ahead. We are delighted that the performances have been re-scheduled, and that the details will be announced shortly

On Thursday 20 February the Philharmonia Chorus took part in a performance of Mahler's Second Symphony at the Royal Festival Hall, London. The Chorus joined soprano Camilla Tilling, mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnston and the Philharmonia Orchestra with its Principal Guest conductor Jakub Hrůša.

The concert was recorded by BBC Radio 3, and was broadcast on Monday 9 March.

We are greatly saddened to hear of the death at 92 of Norbert Balatsch. While chorus master at both the Vienna State Opera and the Bayreuth Festival, he was appointed to the Chorus in 1975. Over the next five years he prepared the Chorus for over 50 concerts and recordings with some of the most outstanding conductors of the time. During this period the Chorus appeared in concerts and performances of staged opera at the Roman Théâtre Antique in Orange, and the 1979 recording of Mozart's Requiem conducted by Guilini won the 1981 Grammy award for best choral performance. The Chorus flourished under him, and we are both grateful and fortunate to have benefited from his leadership.

The Philharmonia Chorus was back in the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 15 December 2021 with two seasonal performances of Handel's Messiah. The Chorus was joined by soprano Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha, alto Claire Barnett-Jones, tenor Thomas Atkins, and bass Simon Shibambu. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was conducted by Sian Edwards.

Three Philharmonia Chorus singers have been appointed to the prestigious ENO Harewood Artists for 2019/20. Each Harewood Artist undertakes a programme of vocal and language training, is coached by experts in their repertoire and is fully supported through auditions for career-building performance opportunities with ENO, around the UK and abroad. Mezzo-soprano Claire Barnett-Jones and tenors William Morgan and John Findon were among the first singers who auditioned for the Philharmonia Chorus Professional Singer Scheme, and have joined the Chorus for many concerts. We congratulate them and wish them well at ENO.