Tis the season…….
Tuesday 15 December 2020
Sheffield Telegraph
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus are determined that this year will be no different. To ensure their customary seasonal cheer endures, they have had to be rather inventive, since their usual joyous concert with over two-hundred musicians on stage and thousand-strong audiences at Sheffield’s City Hall, would certainly not comply with the current social distancing guidelines.
“When I was asked to present the Chorus’s Christmas Carol Concert this December, I admit, I was rather surprised, especially when I heard it would still include over a hundred voices and the full Black Dyke Band”, explained the choir’s new Patron Petroc Trelawny. One of the best known voices on BBC Radio 3 and with over 17 years introducing the BBC Proms, Petroc joined as a Patron earlier in the year, and had been due to present the choir’s annual carol concert at the City Hall, now abandoned due to coronavirus restrictions. ‘The choir’s carol concert in Sheffield has kicked-off my Christmas for a few years now, and I’m absolutely delighted to become their Patron – and to be able to join in the festivities again by recording a contribution from home’.
Like so many musicians, Chorus members and the Black Dyke Band have had to get to grips with technology, and were tasked by the choir’s Music Director, Darius Battiwalla, to record themselves singing and playing, so a virtual choir and band could be created. It’s obviously taken a bit of getting used to, but they do seem to have risen to the challenge remarkably well.
Discussing the singers, “It’s actually rather fitting now I think about it” remarked Petroc. As presenter for the concert, he was particularly talking about one of the pieces specially commissioned for the choir’s first YouTube broadcast – a new version of the 16th century carol Resonet in Laudibus, arranged for brass band and chorus by Darius. “In past centuries, people would have gathered in kitchens and round fireplaces to make music together, singing festive carols during dark evenings, so 2020 is just a high-tech version of some of the old traditions”.
“We are absolutely thrilled that Petroc is now to be one of our Patrons. As a prominent radio presenter of great experience, I’m sure a good number of us could have done with a few tips about recording techniques” quipped Rachel Copley, President of the Chorus, rather dryly. “But more seriously, this year, more than ever, we need to ensure we bring light and joy into people’s homes. We’ve all been keen to take on the steep learning curve needed to ensure we can still present quality music now, and be ready to perform again live when we all come back together in 2021.”
Link to article in the Sheffield Telegraph Tuesday 15 December 2020
Previous News Items
Tuesday 15 December 2020 ‘Tis the season…..
20 October 2020 Chorus CD tops the charts!
21 July 2020 Music Director gives on-line recital for Yorkshire Day
6 July 2020 Music Director’s beautiful Messiah arrangement
28 June 2020 Chorus starts on-line rehearsals
18 June 2020 Music Director joins choral greats in highlighting challenges faced by choirs
16 June 2020 The Guardian – Covid-19 has silences choirs
18 May 2020 Chorus supports its locked-down musicians
23 March 2020 Concerts postponed and rehearsals cancelled
2 February 2020 Chorus to sing Messiah with French and German visitors
2019
17 December 2019 REVIEW: Sheffield’s Christmas concert tradition
16 December 2019 Carol wins Classic FM competition
15 December 2019 Sheffield Telegraph – Chorus in finals of national carol competition
14 November 2019 REVIEW – ‘Beautifully and intricately rendered by the choir’
8 November 2019 Bring a Man Night
2 November 2019 Chorus to present Bochum gift to Lord Mayor
23 Sept 2019 Chorus kick off BBC Music Day on Fargate
12 June 2019 REVIEW Holy Face Sheffield Telegraph
07 April 2019 Bach’s compendium; SPC /Royal Northern Sinfonia, City Hall
1 Feb 2019 Chorus members sing Messiah in Germany
2018
28 Dec New Year’s Honour for local choir President
6 Dec 2018 Excellent programme from the Chorus
26 Oct 2018 Composer thrilled with recording
28 July 2018 Yorkshire Post celebrates publication of 1911 World Tour Book
23 July 2018 Chorus members sing in France during World Cup
20 July 2018 Tour de France for Sheffield Choir
03 July 2018 Chorus prepares to deliver French mini tour
14 June 2018 Up Close and Personal
11 June 2018 Audience thrilled by Rossini and original Mustel harmonium
31 May 2018 Chorus and harmonium in perfect harmony
11 May 2018 ‘Outstanding’ – Chorus ends Mahler tour on high note
30 April 2018 Review: Bruckner Orchester Linz, Usher Hall, Edinburgh, four stars
30 April 2018 Chorus sing a ‘blazing’ Mahler 2 in Edinburgh
29 April 2018 ‘Assertive Mahler’ Simon Thompson, Seen and Heard International
12 Feb 2018 Chorus sings with Sheffield mezzo soprano
3 Feb 2018 World premiere ‘an emotive journey’
12 Jan 2018 Chorus on journey to Paradise
2017
11 Dec 2017 Calypso Carol on Classic FM
15 Oct 2017 Composer thrilled with premiere of his new work
3 July 2017 Chorus records new CD
6 April 2017 Stairs? No problem!
24 April 2017 Open Letter from the Chair: The relevance of classical music.
20 March 2017 It’s a fact – Singing is good for you!
pre-2016
16 May 2016 140th birthday celebrations
16 Feb 2016 What’s your ‘Fantasy Concert’?
18 Oct 2015 Sisters Steal Away
18 Feb 2013 Rachmaninov – will Chorus be reaching for the vodka?
8 Oct 2012 Free choral workshops and a welcome return for Handel’s Messiah
8 Aug 2012 Free choral workshops and a year full of singing
17 June 2012 Olympic Dreams – Will it be Singin’ in The Rain or Mr Blue Skies?
16 Apr 2012 Contemporary composers take centre stage
16 Apr 2012 New community links in Sheffield
3 April 2012 Bronte Mass ‘impressive’
12 Feb 2012 Alight: Eclectic music lines up to take centre stage as part of the Cultural Olympiad
13 Jan 2012 Scaling The Heights – Singclude Breaks Down Barriers For Disabled Singers
24 Feb 2011 Three-fold choral debut
22 Nov 2010 Songs of Praise – Chorus celebrate 75th Anniversary year with audience of over 2 million
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