- City of Glasgow Chorus
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The City of Glasgow Chorus was founded in Glasgow, Scotland in 1983 by Graham Taylor, who is still its Director of Music. Since then, it has established its position as the biggest independent choral group in the west of Scotland and a significant player in Scotland’s arts environment. It has achieved this in spite of, or perhaps because of, a policy of performing less familiar pieces in the mainstream choral repertoire. The Chorus presents a series of self-promoted concerts each season, which have included in recent years performances of a string of lesser-known works by very well known composers, for example, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem, Verdi's Four Sacred Pieces, Holst's Choral Symphony, Puccini's Messa di Gloria, Malcolm Arnold's The Return of Odysseus, Ralph Vaughan Williams' A Sea Symphony, and Mahler's Symphony No. 8 (The Symphony of a Thousand).
No less important for building the Chorus's reputation has been a string of collaborations with leading orchestras and performers. Some particular highlights include a joint performance of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Philharmonia Chorus, and participation in a large-scale performance of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana for the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Other past collaborations include performances with the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, the Orchestra of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, the Paragon Ensemble, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Individual singers who have graced Chorus performances include Lesley Garrett, Sarah Brightman, Willard White, Maria Ewing and José Carreras.
The City of Glasgow Chorus has also gained popularity with overseas audiences. Notable performances include concerts in Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres, and a tour of the Czech Republic in 1996, where the Chorus performed the Prague premiere of William Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast with the Karlovy Vary Symphony Orchestra. Recordings
In the studio, the Chorus has recorded the CD albums Flower of Scotland with the City of Glasgow Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Iain Sutherland) and The Pilgrim, a Celtic Suite by Shaun Davey. It has also recorded two highly successful collections of Choral Classics, directed by Graham Taylor and featuring John Langdon on organ. In October 2005 the Chorus, together with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera, made the world première recording of Sir Malcolm Arnold's humorous dramatic cantata The Return of Odysseus. The CD also features a performance of Vaughan Williams' choral work Toward the Unknown Region and Milhaud's Suite Française.
The City of Glasgow Chorus Trust is a Company limited by guarantee, with charitable status. It is registered in Scotland (113563), and its Registered Charity number is SC 004791.
External links
Categories:- Scottish choirs
- Musical groups from Glasgow
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