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. Led by James Burton, the Hallé's Choral Director, the Choir gives around twenty 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 Hallé Choir is renowned for giving performances of familiar repertoire, such as Handel's Messiah, Bach's St. John Passion and Brahms's Requiem, as well as enjoying 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 and Aftertones by Colin Matthews, the Hallé's Associate Composer. Other ventures have included its first a cappella concert, which took place at the Royal Northern College of Music last April with a performance of works by Tallis, Vaughan Williams and Holst.
Under the direction of Mark Elder, the Choir, alongside the Hallé and a cast of international soloists concluded the 2006-2007 season with a performance of Elgar's The Kingdom, which was part of the Hallé's celebration marking the 150th birthday of Sir Edward Elgar.
The Hallé's 150th anniversary season began in September 2007, and in November, the Hallé and the Hallé Choir helped to celebrated the 50th anniversary of the death of Sibelius in a series of four concerts entitled, 'Sibelius: The Origin of Fire'. The forces of the Hallé Choir were augmented by the London Symphony Chorus for two critically-acclaimed performances of Verdi's Requiem, firstly in St. Paul's Cathedral and then, two nights later, in Manchester's Bridgewater Hall.
The Choir looks forward to taking part in the Hallé's 150th Anniversary Concert, presented by Dame Janet Baker, on Wednesday 30 January 2007. On Maundy Thursday, 20 March, Mark Elder leads the Hallé, Hallé Choir and Youth Choir, alongwith an unbeatable team of soloists present Bach's monumental St. Matthew Passion, sung in English.
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 Mark Elder, on Elgar: A Self-Portrait, short-listed for the Gramophone Awards 2006: '[Elder] goes to the heart of the music and takes his orchestra and the superb choir with him.' The Sunday Telegraph. 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, combining traditional carols with timeless lighter favourites.
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's activities include individual vocal coaching, sectional and full choir rehearsals as well as social events. For more information please contact the Hallé Choir at enquires@hallechoir.co.uk or on the telephone answering service on 0845 1080 122.
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Recently performed choral works
Bach St. John Passion
Beethoven Meerstille und Glückliche Fahrt
Brahms Requiem
Brahms Song of Destiny
Elgar The Music Makers
Elgar The Dream of Gerontius
Handel Messiah
Haydn The Creation |
Holst The Planets
Janácek Glagolitic Mass
Mahler Symphony No.2
Mascagni Cavalleria rusticana
Tippett The Midsummer Marriage: Ritual Dances
Verdi Falstaff
Verdi Stabat Mater and Te Deum from The Four Sacred Pieces
Walton Belshazzar's Feast |
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