Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Opera

 

The Philharmonia Chorus is a renowned classical music ensemble based in London, England. Founded in 1957, the choir has established itself as one of the leading choral groups in the world, performing with some of the most prestigious orchestras and conductors. The Philharmonia Chorus was founded by Walter Legge, a prominent classical music producer and founder of the Philharmonia Orchestra. Legge had a vision of creating a world-class choir to perform alongside the orchestra, and he handpicked the members of the choir himself. The choir's first rehearsal took place in September 1957, and their debut performance was in November of the same year, performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Otto Klemperer. The choir's early years were marked by a series of successful performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra, including a critically acclaimed performance of Verdi's Requiem in 1961. The choir also began to establish itself as an independent ensemble, performing a wide range of choral works from the Renaissance to the contemporary era. One of the key figures in the early years of the Philharmonia Chorus was chorus master Wilhelm Pitz. Pitz was a highly respected choral conductor who had previously worked with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Bayreuth Festival. He was appointed as the choir's first chorus master in 1958 and remained in the role until 1973. Under Pitz's leadership, the choir developed a reputation for its precision and clarity of sound, and he was instrumental in establishing the choir's distinctive sound. In the 1970s, the Philharmonia Chorus continued to perform with the Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as with other leading orchestras such as the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The choir also began to undertake international tours, performing in Europe, the United States, and Japan. One of the highlights of the choir's early international tours was a performance of Mahler's Eighth Symphony at the Salzburg Festival in 1971. The performance was conducted by Leonard Bernstein and featured a cast of over 1,000 performers, including the Philharmonia Chorus. The performance was widely acclaimed and helped to establish the choir's reputation on the international stage. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Philharmonia Chorus continued to perform with leading orchestras and conductors, including Sir Georg Solti, Riccardo Muti, and Claudio Abbado. The choir also began to record extensively, releasing a series of acclaimed recordings of choral works by composers such as Bach, Handel, and Mozart. One of the most significant moments in the choir's history came in 1995, when they performed in the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham Stadium. The choir performed a specially commissioned piece by composer John Tavener, which was broadcast to a global audience of millions. In the 21st century, the Philharmonia Chorus has continued to perform with leading orchestras and conductors, including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Gustavo Dudamel, and Simon Rattle. The choir has also continued to undertake international tours, performing in countries such as China, South Korea, and Australia. One of the most notable performances in recent years was the choir's performance of Verdi's Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013. The performance was conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen and featured a cast of over 400 performers, including the Philharmonia Chorus.

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