Philharmonia Chorus

The Philharmonia Chorus is considered one of the superior bodies of classical choral performances the world over. For more than six decades, it has transcended its roots as a recording entity, becoming a self-contained group of engaging vocal accompanists. Walter Legge, a producer for England's EMI label, commissioned the Philharmonia Chorus in 1957 as a vocal counterpart to the Philharmonia Orchestra, formed more than a decade earlier. The ensemble featured hundreds of non-professional singers, honed by original chorus master Wilhelm Pitz; his rehearsals elicited a discipline and drama more typical of opera than classical works. This approach made the chorus' debut performance -- a rendition of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Royal Festival Hall under the baton of Otto Klemperer -- a most memorable one, and the chorus settled into a familiar role supporting the orchestra on both performances and recordings, as the long-playing album became the preferred medium of preserved sound. After a period of working with conductors from Herbert Von Karajan and Leopold Stokowski to Sir Adrian Boult and Carlo Maria Giulini, Legge attempted to draw down both the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus in 1964. What happened next was particularly stunning: both ensembles elected to continue independently, with the chorus operating under an elected body of directors making up a managerial council. The change in management did nothing to affect its standing in the classical world; Klemperer, Von Karajan, Boult, and Giulini continued to conduct both ensembles. Each was legally required to add "New" into its name for a period, reverting to the more familiar names in 1977. In 1980, both bodies were honored by the patronage of the then-Prince of Wales, a relationship that continued after Charles III was crowned the King of England. Since becoming independent, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus recorded scores of great classical works and operas on labels, including His Master's Voice, Deutsche Grammophon, Angel, and Sony Classical. Guest conductors include Sir Georg Solti, Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Andrew Davis, Lorin Maazel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and many others. The chorus has also toured independently of the orchestra, collaborating with the London Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. On-stage repertoire in the 2020s has expanded to include pop fare and even accompaniment of film scores, and the line-up was revitalized with the introductions in 2010 and 2013 of the Professional and Student Singer Schemes, a process in which members auditioned and were added to an on-demand talent pool. ~ Mike Duquette, Rovi