Swansea Philharmonic Choir
The Swansea Philharmonic Choir is a mixed choir based in Swansea, Wales. It performs with 76 members.[1]
History
The Choir was founded in 1959 by Haydn James. His stated aim was to raise the standard of choral singing in Wales, and to perform a mix of choral classics and less-familiar music. It marked its 50-year anniversary with a special slate of performances in Swansea.
Repertoire
The Choir performs regularly in Brangwyn Hall and in St Mary's Church, Swansea. It presents music ranging from the Baroque Period to present-day works. It regularly includes British composers such as Ralph Vaughan Williams, Benjamin Britten and Sir Edward Elgar. It also includes works of Daniel Jones, Hoddinott, Mathias and Karl Jenkins.
In March 2007 the Choir gave a performance of Orff's Carmina Burana, and presented the world première of Cities of Dreams a work commissioned by the Choir and composed by Swansea-born composer Stephen McNeff. Other works performed in 2007 included Fauré's Requiem, the Petite messe solennelle by Rossini and Handel's Messiah.[2]
In March 2008 the Choir performed Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise and the Choral Suite from The Armed Man: A mass for peace by Karl Jenkins.
In June 2008 the Choir held a Come and Sing event in Swansea, at which Mozart's Coronation Mass was performed. In December 2008 the Choir performed Verdi's Requiem.
References
- ^ http://swanseaphilchoir.org/ Swansea Philharmonic Choir official website
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/swansea/pages/philharmonic_choir.shtml BBC Wales feature on Swansea Philharmonic Choir