SouthamptonPhil.org
Title
Southampton Philharmonic Choir - home
Description
About the Southampton Philharmonic Choir
The Southampton Philharmonic was founded in 1860, making us Southampton's oldest music society. We are noted for performing both from the established choral repertoire and also contemporary works. "First performances in Southampton" have included the Berlioz Requiem, Bartok's Cantata Profana and works by Stravinsky, Sir Michael Tippett, Sir William Walton, Gordon Crosse, Jonathan Harvey and Dominic Muldowney.
After the appointment of Professor Peter Evans as conductor in 1965 the Philharmonic was joined in its rehearsals and performances by the University Choral Society who have, according to the critics, added "youthful tone" especially among the female voices.
In 1972 we commissioned a new work Cantata VII On Vision from the composer Jonathan Harvey, and the first performance was broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 along with Haydn's Harmoniemesse. Then in 1976 we undertook a live broadcast of Britten's War Requiem with the Salisbury Cathedral Choristers and both the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and the Bournemouth Sinfonietta. This was one of the last broadcasts of his music heard by the composer before his death.
Languages
English
