2017-18 saw the Chorus presenting ten concerts in Halifax, Manchester, Edinburgh, Middlesbrough and Sheffield, ending the season with a mini-tour in France. We sang with the Manchester Camerata, Bruckner Orchester Linz, three other Yorkshire choirs and the world famous Black Dyke Band. We were joined by a wealth of solo talent, including acclaimed organist Jonathan Scott, and award-winning mezzo soprano Anna Harvey, who was born in Sheffield. A highlight was singing Mahler’s magnificent Resurrection Symphony on a mini tour of Edinburgh, Middlesbrough and Sheffield with the wonderful Bruckner Orchester Linz; critics described performances as ‘rousing‘, outstanding‘ and ‘gripping‘; read them here.
Sunday 15 October 2017, at 7.30pm, Victoria Theatre, Halifax
The Holy Face, Philip Wilby
The chorus presents the world premiere of Philip Wilby’s new oratorio for three choirs, orchestra and organ, with the Halifax Choral Society and the Yorkshire Youth Choir under the baton of Jonathan Pryce-Jones. Commissioned by Halifax Choral Society to celebrate their 200th anniversary, the work was written for orchestra and brass band accompaniment, and the three choirs have recorded it with the world-famous Black Dyke Band. More details (preface from the vocal score).
- Philip Wilby The Holy Face
- Mendelssohn Psalm 114
- Bruckner Te Deum Laudamus
North of England Classical Orchestra
Jonathan Pryce-Jones, conductor
Halifax Choral Society, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus
Saturday 16 December 2017, at 3pm & 7pm, Sheffield City Hall
Christmas Carol Concert
We join forces with the Black Dyke Band for the seventh year running for an intimate, heart-warming festive concert of carols and yuletide favourites. Take the whole family and sing along to beloved Christmas music including ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Away in a Manger’, as well as some more contemporary choices, with world-class performers in the atmospheric setting of the Irwin Mitchell Oval Hall.
One of the most celebrated brass bands in history, the Black Dyke Band have toured the world to critical acclaim, won national and international competitions year after year and collaborated with a diverse range of famous musicians. Conducting them will be their esteemed Director of Music Dr. Nicholas Childs.
Hosting is broadcaster and horn-player Tom Redmond, whose irrepressible passion for music and experience presenting diverse concerts around the world promises to bring a unique sparkle to an irreplaceable fixture in Sheffield’s festive calendar.
Tom Redmond presenter
Black Dyke Band, Dr. Nicholas Childs, conductor
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Darius Battiwalla, conductor
Saturday 27 January 2018, Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester
World Premiere of ‘Paradise‘ by Paul Mealor
The Chorus again takes part in a world premiere, this time of Welsh composer Paul Mealor‘s new work ‘Paradise’, which will be presented in Manchester with the world-famous Black Dyke Band as part of the prestigious RNCM Brass Band Festival. Paul Mealor came into the public eye when his motet ‘Ubi Caritas et Amor‘ was performed at the Royal wedding in 2011, and Chorus and Band will be recording ‘Paradise’ for what is likely to prove a very popular new CD to be released later in the year.
Black Dyke Band, Dr. Nicholas Childs, conductor,
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Darius Battiwalla, conductor
Review of Paradise: Chorus on journey to Paradise
Saturday 3 February 2018, at 7pm, Sheffield City Hall
MOZART Requiem
Jean-Claude Picard, a young conductor praised for the intensity and flair of his performances, directs the Manchester Camerata and Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus in Mozart’s great Requiem. Unfinished at the composer’s death, it was completed by a star pupil; its origins are somewhat shrouded in mystery and intrigue. But whatever those origins really were, it remains a profound musical experience for audiences and performers alike. The four wonderful soloists include Sheffield-born Anna Harvey, a prize-winning mezzo soprano hailed as ‘simply wonderful’ by the New York Times and ‘remarkable’ by the Times.The lighter side of Mozart is in evidence in his beautifully buoyant ‘Linz Symphony’. He wrote it in just a few days while passing through the Austrian city of its title. The concert opens with Arvo Pärt’s Da Pacem Domine for strings, based on his great choral prayer for peace, a work of serenity and quite astonishing beauty.
Manchester Camerata, Jean-Claude Picard conductor
Ailish Tynan soprano, Anna Harvey mezzo-soprano
Nicholas Mulroy tenor, Peter Harvey bass-baritone
Report of Mozart Requiem: Chorus sings with Sheffield mezzo soprano
Friday 20 April 2018, at 9.15pm, Sheffield City Hall
After Hours concert
The Chorus provides an extra choral treat to those attending the orchestral concert in the Irwin Mitchel Hall, by presenting a short ‘After Hours’ concert in the beautiful City Hall ballroom immediately after the main concert, accompanied by the Chorus’ new accompanist Rachel Fright on piano. The programme will continue the theme of German romantic music established in the main concert and will include ‘Zigeunerlieder’, a charming set of gypsy songs composed by Brahms in 1891, and Mendelssohn’s beautiful ‘Sechs Spruche’, six songs relating to key liturgical festivals.
Darius Battiwalla conductor,
Rachel Fright piano
Saturday 5 May 2018 at 7pm, Sheffield City Hall
MAHLER Symphony No. 2, ‘Resurrection’
Markus Poschner, the Bruckner Orchester Linz, soloists and the joint forces of the Sheffield and Leeds Philharmonic Choruses perform Mahler’s truly epic ‘Resurrection’ Symphony. It promises to be an unforgettable experience.
The highly dramatic first movement portrays a superman’s titanic struggle with fate. The second and third movements offer contrast, the text of the latter describing St Anthony’s sermon to the fishes. Then, as the orchestra falls silent, the alto soloist enters in magical fashion, the voice of religious faith. Finally, voices, orchestra and organ combine in what could well be the most awe-inspiring vision of redemption and re-birth in all music.
The performance in Sheffield is the culmination of a short tour, with concerts in the Usher Hall Edinburgh on Sunday 29 April, and the newly-refurbished Town Hall in Middlesbrough on Tuesday 1st May 2018.
Bruckner Orchester Linz, Markus Poschner conductor
Brigitte Geller soprano, Theresa Kronthaler alto
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Leeds Philharmonic Chorus
Reviews of Mahler 2:
11 May 2018 ‘Outstanding’ – Chorus ends Mahler tour on high note
30 April 2018 Chorus sing a ‘blazing’ Mahler 2 in Edinburgh
29 April ‘Assertive Mahler’ Simon Thompson, Seen and Heard International
Saturday 9 June 2018, 7.30pm, Sheffield City Hall
ROSSINI Petite Messe Solonnelle
The season concludes with a return to the beautiful City Hall ballroom for a presentation of Rossini’s wonderful ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’, with acclaimed organist Jonathan Scott on harmonium, and the chorus’ previous accompanist Nigel Gyte on piano. The concert will include a solo piece for harmonium, together with a short talk about the instrument from Jonathan Scott.
Jonathan Scott, harmonium, Nigel Gyte, piano
Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Darius Battiwalla, conductor
Report and Review of Rossini concert:
11 June 2018 Audience thrilled by Rossini and original Mustel harmonium
12 July to 19 July 2018 – Mini Tour in France
Members of the Chorus travelled to France from 12th to 17th July 2018 to sing ‘Le messe de deliverance‘ by François-Clément Théodore Dubois, a piece commissioned to commemorate WWII, in The Cathedral at Perigueux with L’ensemble Vocal de Périgueux and L’ensemble Vocal Arnault de Mareuil. Music Director Darius Battiwalla played organ works as well as conducting the Chorus. Two further concerts in St Astier and Le Eglise de Excideuil featured works by Arvo Pärt, Esenvalds Lielupe, Stanford, Parry, Rachmaninov and Saint-Saens.
See Chorus prepares to deliver French mini tour
Perigueux cathedral 15 July 2018, with L’ensemble Vocal de Perigueux and L’ensemble Vocal Arnault de Mareuil