Hallé Choir biography
Get involved with the Hallé Choir
Forthcoming choral concerts
Recently performed choral works

Sir Charles Hallé founded the Hallé Choir alongside the orchestra in 1858. The choir gives around 20 concerts a year with the Hallé at The Bridgewater Hall and other venues across the UK. It appears with internationally renowned conductors and soloists in concerts and recordings, performing an exciting and varied programme of major choral and operatic works.

The choir gives performances of familiar repertoire, such as Handel's Messiah, Bach's Passions and Brahms's A German Requiem, and enjoys a reputation for tackling more unusual works. Highlights from recent years include Shostakovich's Second and Third Symphonies, Tippett's Ritual Dances from The Midsummer Marriage, Janácek's Glagolitic Mass, Rachmaninov's The Bells, Aftertones by Colin Matthews (the Hallé's Associate Composer) and Elgar's The Kingdom.

Other ventures have included unaccompanied recitals at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester Cathedral and the Albion Church, Ashton, and an appearance at the 2007 Manchester International Cello Festival performing Sir John Tavener's O Holy City with Ivan Monighetti.

Under the direction of Sir Mark Elder, the choir, alongside the Hallé, the Hallé Youth Choir and a cast of international soloists, was invited to sing Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius at the 2005 BBC Proms. This concert, which was also performed in Manchester, and was repeated here in 2008, attracted widespread critical acclaim.

Highlights of last season included a critically-acclaimed concert performance and BBC Radio 3 broadcast of Wagner's Götterdämmerung and performances of Mendelssohn's Symphony No.2, 'Lobgesang' at The Bridgewater Hall and BBC Proms. Major concerts this season include Handel's Messiah, a series of traditional Christmas concerts, and appearances in the Manchester Mahler Festival, in Symphony No.2, 'Resurrection' and Symphony No.8.

Since 2003 the choir has featured regularly on the Hallé's own CD label, notably in Elgar's The Music Makers, with Jane Irwin, under Sir Mark Elder and on Elgar: A Self-Portrait, shortlisted in the 2006 Gramophone Awards. Other recordings include English Rhapsody featuring Grainger's Brigg Fair; English Landscapes including choral rarities by Ireland and Elgar; and Hallé Christmas Classics under Carl Davis. The choir also appears on Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius, conducted by Sir Mark Elder and featuring Alice Coote, Paul Groves and Bryn Terfel which recently won the Classic FM Gramophone Choral Award 2009.

The Hallé Choir is made up of 150 singers from all over the North-West of England and from all walks of life. Meeting to rehearse regularly in Manchester, the choir offers a range of activities including individual vocal coaching, sectional and full choir rehearsals as well as social events. If you would like to find out how to join the Hallé Choir or for any further details, please e-mail enquiries@hallechoir.co.uk.

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Recently performed choral works