2007-2008 season

Saturday September 29th 2007, Sheffield City Hall

  • 75th anniversary Gala concert, including

  • Beethoven: Ode to Joy

Lesley Garrett (soprano)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Manchester Camerata, Phillip Ellis

“The Philharmonic Chorus sung lustily, were suitably reposeful in the Mozart and sang well enough in a […] truncated last movement of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony.” Sheffield Telegraph

Saturday November 10th 2007, Victoria Hall, Sheffield

  • Duruflé: Motets

  • Fauré: Requiem

Ruth Jones (soprano)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Daniel Gordon (organ), Darius Battiwalla

 

Saturday December 8th 2007, Sheffield City Hall

Handel: Messiah

Elizabeth Cragg (soprano), Frances Bourne (mezzo soprano), Joshua Ellicott (tenor), David Soar (bass)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Manchester Camerata, Darius Battiwalla

“…the choral sequence after He Was Despised was dramatically impressive […] Soprano Elizabeth Cragg and mezzo Frances Bourne sang beautifully, neither having particularly big voices but well-placed to just about carry in the hall, while with more animated music, tenor Joshua Ellicott, with forthright singing and meaningful use of words, and bass David Soar, with heroic power, often filled it.” Sheffield Telegraph

Saturday December 15th 2007, Sheffield City Hall

Christmas Concert

Ian MacMillan (compère)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Black Dyke brass band, Darius Battiwalla

Wednesday January 16th 2008, Sheffield City Hall Ballroom

Tallis: Spem in Alium

Rachmaninov: Vespers (excerpts)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Darius Battiwalla

Friday March 21st 2008, Sheffield City Hall

Bach: St John Passion

Carolyn Sampson (soprano), Claire Wilkinson (mezzo soprano), Mark Tucker (tenor, Evangelist), Matthew Hargreaves (bass, Christus), Robert MacDonald (bass)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Manchester Camerata, Nicholas Kraemer

“…The Phil, in excellent voice throughout, sang with excellent balance, vigour, intent and subtle interpretive nicety, the ‘fussiness’ when casting lots for Christ’s robe, for instance.” Sheffield Telegraph

Thursday May 29th 2008, Sheffield City Hall

  • Elgar: The Music Makers

  • Poulenc: Suite: Les Biches

  • Vaughan WIlliams: Five variants on Dives and Lazarus

  • Britten: Four Sea Interludes

Christine Rice (mezzo soprano)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Hallé Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins

“…Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus […] tackled the work with vigorous intent, if occasional lack of projection, though not in the first sequence with Christine Rice, which quotes Nimrod, and after where their singing was uplifting.” Sheffield Telegraph