Tanglewood Festival Chorus

Tanglewood Festival Chorus. It is the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its summer home, the Tanglewood festival in the Berkshires. Founded in 1970, the ensemble performs regularly with the orchestra in Boston at Symphony Hall and on tour, specializing in large-scale symphonic choral works from the Baroque era to contemporary compositions. Comprising over 250 volunteer singers from across New England, the chorus is renowned for its precision, power, and integral role in the artistic life of one of America's preeminent musical institutions.

History

The ensemble was established in 1970 by John Oliver, then a faculty member at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at the invitation of Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director Erich Leinsdorf. Its creation was specifically intended to provide a dedicated, high-caliber choral force for the orchestra's performances at Tanglewood and in Boston, filling a need previously met by ad hoc groups. The chorus made its official debut in July 1970 at Tanglewood in a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony under the baton of Leonard Bernstein. Under Oliver's leadership, it quickly became a permanent fixture, performing under every Boston Symphony Orchestra Music Director since, including Seiji Ozawa, James Levine, and Andris Nelsons. A significant milestone was its first Carnegie Hall appearance in 1976 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Seiji Ozawa.

Repertoire and performances

The core repertoire encompasses the great choral-symphonic canon, including masterworks by Bach, Handel, Mozart, Berlioz, Verdi, and Mahler. The chorus is also a champion of 20th and 21st-century music, having given numerous premieres and performances of works by composers such as Leonard Bernstein, John Corigliano, John Harbison, and Thomas Adès. Its annual schedule includes the Boston Symphony Orchestra's holiday performances of Handel's Messiah, regular subscription concerts at Symphony Hall, and the summer festival at Tanglewood, where it often participates in seminal events like the annual performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The ensemble frequently tours with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, appearing at major venues like Carnegie Hall and the Philharmonie de Paris.

Artistic leadership

The founding conductor, John Oliver, served as the ensemble's sole conductor for 45 years, shaping its sound and artistic identity until his retirement in 2015. Following an interim period, James Burton was appointed as the Conductor of the Chorus in 2017. Burton, who previously held positions with the Royal Opera House and the Hallé Choir, now oversees all artistic and administrative matters, including auditions, rehearsals, and vocal training. The chorus also regularly collaborates with the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Music Director Andris Nelsons and guest conductors of international stature, such as Bernard Haitink, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Herbert Blomstedt.

Notable recordings

The ensemble has contributed to many acclaimed recordings with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, earning several Grammy Awards and nominations. Key recordings include Seiji Ozawa's cycle of Debussy's orchestral works for Deutsche Grammophon, Bernard Haitink's celebrated recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 ("Symphony of a Thousand") on the Philips label, and John Williams's soundtrack for the film Seven Years in Tibet. More recent recordings feature collaborations with Andris Nelsons, including a live recording of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem on the BSO Classics label.

Awards and recognition

The chorus's work has been recognized with multiple Grammy Awards, primarily for its collaborative recordings with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. These include the 1996 Grammy for Best Choral Performance for Bernard Haitink's recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 3. It has also received widespread critical acclaim for its consistent artistic excellence, with reviews in publications like The New York Times and The Boston Globe frequently praising its clarity, blend, and dramatic force. The chorus is considered a model for volunteer symphonic choruses worldwide and a vital component of the artistic success of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Category:American choirs Category:Musical groups from Massachusetts Category:Boston Symphony Orchestra