Friday November 27th 2009, Sheffield City Hall

• Haydn: Creation

Julia Sporsén (soprano), Thomas Hobbs (tenor), Andrew Rupp (baritone)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Manchester Camerata, Paul Brough

“...they sang with superb control, excellent balance and restrained power when not letting rip a suitably mighty fortissimo ‘light’ on the first day of creation, while being equal to Brough’s nimble rhythmic demands for The Heavens Are Telling.” Sheffield Telegraph

“Isn’t it wonderful when everything goes right? A choir on top form, an orchestra with the correct sense of style, soloists to match [...] The score is beautifully written for choir, and the Philharmonic Chorus responded with almost the stylistic panache of the orchestra, using small-scale detailed articulation or powerful blockbuster chords as required.” Yorkshire Post

Saturday December 12th 2009, Sheffield City Hall

• Christmas Concert

Ian McMillan (compère)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Black Dyke Band, Darius Battiwalla

(broadcast on BBC Radio 2, December 24th 2009)

Sunday April 18th 2010, Symphony Hall Birmingham

• Jenkins: The Armed Man — A Mass for Peace

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus, Halifax Choral Society, Leeds Metropolitan University Choir

Black Dyke Band, Nicholas Childs

To be recorded

Saturday May 8th 2010, Sheffield City Hall

• Beethoven: Symphony no.1
• Brahms: German Requiem

Amy Freston (soprano), David Stout (baritone)

Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Hallé Orchestra, Ewa Strusinska

“...The chorus did indeed sound magnificent when letting rip with admirable unanimity.” Sheffield Telegraph

“The opening Selig Sind is a model of clarity and radiates the empathy with grief that Brahms strove for; the second chorus is a little rushed, but wait: Strusinska brings chorus, orchestra and the excellently dramatic baritone David Stout together, turning the next few choruses into an expressive treasure-house — we almost feel that death is defeated. She adds in the beautifully clear yet strong tones of the soprano Amy Freston and we feel wonderfully comforted.” Yorkshire Post