Role

:

Ensemble

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Choral

 

Hertfordshire Chorus is a classical music choir based in Hertfordshire, England. The choir was founded in 1972 by David Temple, who remains the choir's conductor to this day. Over the years, the choir has grown in size and reputation, becoming one of the most respected choirs in the UK. The choir's early years were marked by a series of successful performances, including a performance of Handel's Messiah at St Albans Cathedral in 1974. This performance was particularly significant, as it marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship between the choir and the cathedral. The choir has since performed at the cathedral on numerous occasions, including a performance of Bach's St Matthew Passion in 2019. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the choir continued to grow in size and reputation. In 1992, the choir performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, singing in a performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius. This performance was a major milestone for the choir, and helped to establish its reputation as one of the UK's leading choirs. In the years that followed, the choir continued to perform at major venues across the UK, including the Barbican Centre, the Royal Festival Hall, and the Birmingham Symphony Hall. The choir also began to collaborate with some of the UK's leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. One of the choir's most significant performances came in 2007, when it performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms. The choir sang in a performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8, which is often referred to as the "Symphony of a Thousand" due to the large number of performers required. The performance was a major success, and received widespread critical acclaim. In addition to its performances, the choir has also won numerous awards over the years. In 1999, the choir won the BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year competition, which is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious choral competitions in the UK. The choir has also won numerous awards at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, including the Choir of the World title in 2005. Despite its many successes, the choir has faced its fair share of challenges over the years. In 2011, the choir was forced to cancel a performance of Verdi's Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall due to a lack of funding. The cancellation was a major disappointment for the choir, but it also served as a reminder of the challenges faced by many arts organizations in the UK. Despite this setback, the choir has continued to thrive in recent years. In 2018, the choir performed at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms, singing in a performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. The performance was a major success, and received widespread critical acclaim. Looking to the future, the choir remains committed to its mission of bringing classical music to audiences across the UK. With its reputation for excellence and its long-standing relationships with some of the UK's leading orchestras and venues, the choir is well-positioned to continue to thrive in the years to come.

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