Friday September 12th 2008, Royal Albert Hall, London

Prom 75

• Wagner: Parsifal - Prelude
• Penderecki: Threnody ‘For the Victims of Hiroshima’
• Beethoven: Elegische Gesang, op.118
• Beethoven: Symphony no.9

Emma Bell (soprano), Jane Irwin (mezzo soprano), Timothy Robinson (tenor), Iain Paterson (baritone)

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda

(broadcast on BBC Radio 3, September 12th 2008)

“The real pay-off of this high-mindedness came with the Symphony, which more than usually seemed a journey from darkness to light.” The Guardian

“...there were spirited contributions from the BBC Philharmonic and City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus...” The Times

“The BBC Philharmonic made a better impression on Friday, rigorously rehearsed by its chief conductor, Gianandrea Noseda, in Beethoven’s Symphony No.9. The programme proposed a spiritual journey, taking in Penderecki’s Threnody “For the Victims of Hiroshima” [...] valiant singing by the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus...” Financial Times

“The City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus are so well versed they managed to create a frisson...” Opera Today

Friday September 26th 2008, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

• Beethoven: Symphony no.9
• Berio: Formazioni

Hillevi Martinpelto (soprano), Jane Irwin (mezzo soprano), Paul Nilon (tenor), Iain Paterson (baritone)

City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda

(broadcast on BBC Radio 3, September 26th 2008)

“It sounded 10 times better than in the Royal Albert Hall. Just two weeks ago, Gianandrea Noseda and the BBC Philharmonic, with the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, brought the serious part of the BBC Proms to a close with Beethoven’s ninth symphony. On Friday they were live on radio with it again, this time in a concert from the Bridgewater Hall. And, having been present both down there and up here, I can say the second performance was a deeply stirring and moving experience.” Manchester Evening News

Saturday September 27th 2008, Sheffield City Hall

• Beethoven: Symphony no.9
• Liszt: Dante Symphony

Hillevi Martinpelto (soprano), Jane Irwin (mezzo soprano), Paul Nilon (tenor), Iain Paterson (baritone)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda

“...the chorus shook the rafters in the last movement of Beethoven’s Choral Symphony. Singing without scores, the chorus sang its collective heart out, making a magnificent sound in the process and driven by a tornado called Noseda whose beat they could hardly miss. Also without scores as a prop, the four soloists were superb, the choral section being lead off in true heroic Wagnerian style by Iain Paterson, but the evening’s hero was on the podium.” Sheffield Telegraph

Saturday November 1st 2008, Sheffield City Hall

• Monteverdi: Ouverture de l’Orfeo
• Gabrieli: Gloria
• Gabrieli: Canzon duodecimi toni
• Brahms: Es ist ein Ros’ entsprungen
• Brahms: Geistliches Lied
• Bruckner: Afferentur Regi
• Bruckner: Ave Maria
• Bruckner: Ecce sacerdos
• Vaughan Williams: O Clap your Hands
• Langford: London Miniatures
• Rutter: Te Deum
• Rutter: Gloria

Simon Lindley (organ)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Harlequin Brass Ensemble, Darius Battiwalla

Saturday December 13th 2008, Sheffield City Hall

• Christmas Concert

Brian Kay (presenter)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Northern Chamber Orchestra Sinfonia, Darius Battiwalla

“...the smartly turned out ladies and gents of the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus near enough lifted the roof off with Oh Holy Night as one of their performance highlights...”Sheffield Star

Wednesday February 4th 2009, Ballroom of Sheffield City Hall

• Parry: Songs of Farewell
• Vaughan Williams: Mass in G minor

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Darius Battiwalla

Friday March 6th 2009, Sheffield City Hall

• Mendelssohn: Elijah

Janice Watson (soprano), Susan Bickley (mezzo soprano), Andrew Kennedy (tenor), Roderick Williams (baritone)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Hallé Orchestra, Nicholas Kraemer

“...Above all there was the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, which sang out of its collective skin with intoxicating vigour and intent. If ever a chorus were up for a work, the Phil were here. They were magnificent.”Sheffield Telegraph

“...The Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, directed, coaxed, perhaps even inspired by the conductor Nicholas Kraemer excelled themselves in the accuracy, power and expression of their singing. The drama was heightened by some wonderful exchanges between the line-up of soloists: Janice Watson (soprano) and Susan Bickley (mezzo) in their duet; Roderick Williams and Andrew Kennedy (tenor) as Elijah and King Ahab. Well might the Chorus sing ‘And then shall your light break forth’ at the end. They had overcome the prophets of Baal and the loudspeakers below triumphantly.”Yorkshire Post

Friday May 29th 2009, Sheffield City Hall

• Haydn: Nelson Mass
• Haydn: Symphony 103 ‘Paukenwirbel’
• Haydn: Overture to Il Mondo della Luna

Claire Ormshaw (soprano), Carolina Krogius (mezzo soprano), Robert Gardiner (tenor), James Oldfield (baritone)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Manchester Camerata, Douglas Boyd

“...An extremely fine performance of the Nelson Mass found the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus in resplendent voice, strongly rhythmic when required and with clear diction. The four young soloists, soprano Clare Ormshaw, mezzo-soprano Carolina Krogius, tenor Robert Anthony Gardiner, bass James Oldfield, were extremely impressive, the latter a true bass, and soprano, in particular, revealing enormous potential.”Sheffield Telegraph