Leeds Philharmonic Society
Encyclopedia
Leeds Philharmonic Chorus is a leading choir in Europe, regularly performing to professional standards with internationally renowned soloists, orchestras and conductors.
As well as traditional concerts in Leeds Town Hall
, the Chorus has toured and performed in many other prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall
(London), Bridgewater Hall
(Manchester), Symphony Hall, Birmingham
, The Sage Gateshead, Franz Liszt Academy of Music
(Budapest) and St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
Easter 2009 saw the Chorus touring Poland with a varied programme including the Polish première of Karl Jenkins
' The Armed Man
.
Simon Lindley
Leeds Philharmonic Society has over 160 singing members regularly performing concerts at Leeds Town Hall. Performances are often jointly promoted with Leeds International Concert Season and the BBC. Repertoire is extensive, combining both tradition and innovation.
In recent years the Chorus has recorded Stanford's Stabat Mater and Te Deum for Chandos, Walton's Gloria and Belshazzar's Feast for Naxos and The Messiah for CMI Records.
Early in its history the Chorus gave performances of new works conducted by composers such as Elgar, Parry and Sullivan. More recently, the Society gave the first broadcast performance of Geoffrey Burgon's Requiem and has commissioned works from James Brown, Donald Hunt and Philip Wilby
.
Unfamiliar and demanding works have been a frequent feature of programmes. Recent examples include Franz Schmidt's The Book with Seven Seals, Rachmaninov's The Bells (with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra), Adams' Harmonium, Wilby's Bronte Mass (World Premiere) and Delius' Mass of Life.
David Hill is Leeds Philharmonic Society's Musical Director and Conductor. Widley recognised as one of the leading Choral Conductors in the UK, David's fine musicianship was recognised by his appointment to the post of Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers in 2007 to which he now adds Associate Guest Conductor of The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Mark Hindley is Leeds Philharmonic Society's Chorus Master. He is in demand to train voices all over the UK and has worked with, among others, the RSNO chorus,
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, St Andrews Chorus and Angus Choral Societies.
In October 2008 the Chorus established a partnership with Leeds City Council basing its Chorus Administrator in the offices of the Leeds City Council Music Department and formally making Leeds Town Hall the official home of the Leeds Philharmonic Society.
Easter 2009 saw the chorus touring Poland (supported by Yorkshire Forward
) including the Polish premiere of Karl Jenkins
' Armed Man with the Capella Cracoviensis Chamber Orchestra. For our Press Release click here.
As well as traditional concerts in Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall
Leeds Town Hall was built between 1853 and 1858 on Park Lane , Leeds, West Yorkshire, England to a design by architect Cuthbert Brodrick.-Background:...
, the Chorus has toured and performed in many other prestigious venues including the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
(London), Bridgewater Hall
Bridgewater Hall
The Bridgewater Hall is an international concert venue in Manchester city centre, England. It cost around £42 million to build and currently hosts over 250 performances a year....
(Manchester), Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall is a 2,262 seat concert venue located inside the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England. It was officially opened by the Queen in June 1991, although had been opened on April 15, 1991. It is home to the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and hosts around 270 events...
, The Sage Gateshead, Franz Liszt Academy of Music
Franz Liszt Academy of Music
The Franz Liszt Academy of Music is a concert hall and music conservatory in Budapest, Hungary, founded on November 14, 1875...
(Budapest) and St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
Easter 2009 saw the Chorus touring Poland with a varied programme including the Polish première of Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
' The Armed Man
The Armed Man
The Armed Man is a Mass by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, subtitled "A Mass for Peace". The piece was commissioned by the Royal Armouries Museum for the Millennium celebrations, and to mark the museum's move from London to Leeds, and it was dedicated to victims of the Kosovo crisis...
.
History
"The Leeds Philharmonic Society is the senior choir in the city by date of foundation and by virtue of its continued and very distinguished programme sustained annually since 1870".Simon Lindley
Leeds Philharmonic Society has over 160 singing members regularly performing concerts at Leeds Town Hall. Performances are often jointly promoted with Leeds International Concert Season and the BBC. Repertoire is extensive, combining both tradition and innovation.
In recent years the Chorus has recorded Stanford's Stabat Mater and Te Deum for Chandos, Walton's Gloria and Belshazzar's Feast for Naxos and The Messiah for CMI Records.
Early in its history the Chorus gave performances of new works conducted by composers such as Elgar, Parry and Sullivan. More recently, the Society gave the first broadcast performance of Geoffrey Burgon's Requiem and has commissioned works from James Brown, Donald Hunt and Philip Wilby
Philip Wilby
Philip Wilby is a British composer.Educated at Leeds Grammar School and Keble College, Oxford, he joined the staff at the University of Leeds in 1972...
.
Unfamiliar and demanding works have been a frequent feature of programmes. Recent examples include Franz Schmidt's The Book with Seven Seals, Rachmaninov's The Bells (with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra), Adams' Harmonium, Wilby's Bronte Mass (World Premiere) and Delius' Mass of Life.
David Hill is Leeds Philharmonic Society's Musical Director and Conductor. Widley recognised as one of the leading Choral Conductors in the UK, David's fine musicianship was recognised by his appointment to the post of Chief Conductor of the BBC Singers in 2007 to which he now adds Associate Guest Conductor of The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Mark Hindley is Leeds Philharmonic Society's Chorus Master. He is in demand to train voices all over the UK and has worked with, among others, the RSNO chorus,
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, St Andrews Chorus and Angus Choral Societies.
In October 2008 the Chorus established a partnership with Leeds City Council basing its Chorus Administrator in the offices of the Leeds City Council Music Department and formally making Leeds Town Hall the official home of the Leeds Philharmonic Society.
Easter 2009 saw the chorus touring Poland (supported by Yorkshire Forward
Yorkshire Forward
Yorkshire Forward is the regional development agency for the Yorkshire and the Humber region of the United Kingdom. It supports the development of business in the region by encouraging public and private investment in education, skills, environment and infrastructure...
) including the Polish premiere of Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
' Armed Man with the Capella Cracoviensis Chamber Orchestra. For our Press Release click here.