Patron: The Former HRH The Prince of Wales
Chorus Master: Gavin Carr
Accompanist: Timothy End
Arts Council England

Christmas with the Choir of King's College, Cambridge

In the climax to our Christmas concert season, we are delighted to be back at the Royal Albert Hall on 20th December with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge under the baton of Stephen Cleobury. The programme includes the Chorus performing Vivaldi's Gloria, and the Choir of King's College, Cambridge singing a selection of Christmas carols. It's an evening of heart warming Christmas music with plenty of opportunity for the audience to exercise their voices too - the perfect way to get into the festive spirit!

The De La Warr Pavilion and Carl Orff

The Philharmonia Chorus is delighted to have been invited to help celebrate the 75th Birthday of the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. This iconic Grade One listed building was designed by Erich Mendelsohn, the distinguished German modernist architect. Carmina Burana was composed in the same year, so with a German conductor, Stefan Bevier, what better way to mark two anniversaries than by this truly German event.

The Chorus performed the chamber version for two pianos and percussion prepared by Orff's disciple Wilhelm Killmayer in 1956 and authorized by Orff himself. The percussion is the same as in the full orchestral version, with 20 percussion instruments, on this occasion being played by percussionists from the Royal College of Music.

Philharmonia Chorus records music for third series of Merlin

The Chorus recorded the choral music for the third series of the BBC Arthurian fantasy series Merlin in two sessions, one in August and the second in November. Composer Rob Lane and chorus master Deborah Miles-Johnson presided over the sessions, which took place at The Angel Studios, Islington, London. The new series of Merlin was screened on BBC1 on Saturday evenings from September to December 2010.

Beethoven 9 in London and Spain

On Friday, 9 April at 7.30pm, the Philharmonia Chorus performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the Royal Festival Hall, London, with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment under the exciting young conductor, Ilan Volkov. This concert completed its cycle of Beethoven symphonies. Two days later, on Sunday 11 April, the concert was repeated in the Auditorio Miguel Delibes, Valladolid, Spain. The London performance was recorded by BBC Radio 3 for future broadcast.

James MaMillan's St John Passion in King's College, Cambridge on Good Friday

The Philharmonia Chorus performed the St John's Passion by James MacMillan in King's College, Cambridge, with Mark Stone (baritone), the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, and the BBC Concert Orchestra was conducted by Stephen Cleobury in the Chapel of King's College, Cambridge on Friday, 2 April, Good Friday. James MacMillan's St John Passion is a large scale, dramatic presentation of the passion story. It is scored for two choruses - a Narrator Chorus (sung by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge), and Large Chorus (Philharmonia Chorus). The Chorus was prepared by Nicholas Chalmers. This is the first time the Chorus has worked with Nicholas, who is Assistant Chorus Master at English National Opera. King's College Cambridge was the perfect setting for the work, this being the culmination of this year's Easter at King's Festival in which MacMillan's music featured strongly. The performance was be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, the work's first broadcast performance.


Philharmonia Chorus Professional Singer Scheme launched

The Philharmonia Chorus has launched its Professional Singers Scheme. Applications were invited from singers in the first 10 years of their careers, and those successful at audition will be singing as members of the Chorus in concerts later this year. Auditions were held January 13-15 at the Music Studios in Marylebone Lane, London, and singers were heard by chorus masters Stefan Bevier and Deborah Miles-Johnson, with chorus accompanist Steven Rose.