Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Classical

 

 

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

The Leeds Philharmonic Chorus is a classical music ensemble based in Leeds, England. Founded in 1858, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious choral societies in the United Kingdom. The ensemble has a rich history of performing major works of classical music, including oratorios, operas, and symphonies. The Leeds Philharmonic Chorus was founded by a group of amateur musicians who wanted to perform Handel's Messiah. The first performance took place on December 28, 1858, at the Leeds Town Hall. The chorus was conducted by Sir Michael Costa, a renowned conductor and composer of the time. The performance was a great success, and the chorus continued to perform Handel's Messiah every year thereafter. Over the years, the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus has performed many major works of classical music, including Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, and Mahler's Eighth Symphony. The ensemble has also collaborated with many renowned conductors and soloists, including Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, and Dame Felicity Lott. The Leeds Philharmonic Chorus has had many notable members over the years, including the composer and conductor Sir Edward Elgar, who was a member of the chorus in the late 1800s. Other notable members include the composer and conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent, who was the chorus's conductor from 1927 to 1932, and the composer and conductor Sir Arthur Bliss, who was a member of the chorus in the early 1900s. One of the highlights of the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus's history was its performance of Mahler's Eighth Symphony in 2002. The performance took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The performance was widely acclaimed and was described by The Guardian as "a triumph of choral singing." The Leeds Philharmonic Chorus has also won many awards over the years, including the prestigious Gramophone Award for Best Choral Performance in 1999 for its recording of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. The ensemble has also been nominated for several other awards, including the Classical Brit Award for Best Choral Album in 2005. Today, the Leeds Philharmonic Chorus continues to be one of the leading choral societies in the United Kingdom. The ensemble performs regularly at the Leeds Town Hall and other venues throughout the country. The chorus is currently conducted by Richard Wilberforce, who has been the chorus's conductor since 2013. Under his leadership, the ensemble continues to perform major works of classical music and to maintain its reputation as one of the finest choral societies in the world.

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