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| CBSO Chorus | |
|---|---|
| Name | CBSO Chorus |
| Origin | Birmingham, England |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Genre | Choral music, Classical music |
| Members | Amateur and professional singers |
| Associated acts | City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, CBSO Youth Orchestra, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire |
CBSO Chorus The CBSO Chorus is a large symphonic choir based in Birmingham, England, closely associated with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and resident at venues such as Symphony Hall, Birmingham and Birmingham Town Hall. Founded in the early 1970s, it has appeared with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Sakari Oramo, Andris Nelsons, Edward Gardner, and guest maestros from across Europe and North America. The ensemble performs major choral-orchestral repertoire, new commissions, and collaborations with opera companies and festivals such as the Royal Opera House, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and the BBC Proms.
The choir was established during a period of renewal in Birmingham cultural life alongside institutions like the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Early collaborations featured conductors tied to the London Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, and Vienna Philharmonic, reflecting links with figures such as Sir Simon Rattle and his advocacy for contemporary composers like Harrison Birtwistle, Thomas Adès, and Sir Michael Tippett. Over decades the chorus has worked under music directors connected to the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, and conservatoires including the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and has premiered works at festivals like the Aldeburgh Festival and the Cheltenham Music Festival.
Membership draws singers from the West Midlands and beyond, with rehearsals in venues near Birmingham Repertory Theatre and educational links to schools such as King Edward's School, Birmingham and universities like the University of Birmingham. Prospective members audition before panels often including representatives from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Opera House, and freelance vocal coaches who have worked with ensembles including The Sixteen, Monteverdi Choir, and Oxford Bach Choir. The chorus accepts volunteers as well as employed choral scholars from institutions like Royal Holloway and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, promoting pathways into organizations such as the English National Opera and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
The ensemble's repertoire spans the Baroque to contemporary periods, performing works by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Gabriel Fauré, Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Mahler, Antonín Dvořák, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Johannes Brahms. It has premiered commissions by composers including Mark-Anthony Turnage, James MacMillan, Jonathan Harvey, Judith Weir, Harrison Birtwistle, Tansy Davies, and Philip Glass at venues such as Cadogan Hall and festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival. The chorus regularly performs large-scale works like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Mahler's Eighth Symphony, Britten's War Requiem, Verdi's Requiem, Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, and Mozart's Requiem.
Regular seasons include subscription concerts with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Birmingham and occasional appearances at the BBC Proms in Royal Albert Hall. The ensemble has toured internationally to cities such as Vienna, Berlin, Paris, New York City, Tokyo, Beijing, Rome, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Sydney, and Toronto, often performing in collaboration with orchestras like the Berlin Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, and Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. It has appeared at festivals including the Salzburg Festival, Lucerne Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival, and the Tanglewood Festival.
The chorus features on numerous commercial recordings with labels such as EMI Classics, Decca Records, Warner Classics, Chandos Records, Hyperion Records, and Philips Classics alongside orchestral partners including the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and guest ensembles like the Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Broadcasts have been made on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, and international broadcasters including Deutsche Welle, NPR, RAI, and NHK, with repertoire ranging from Bach's Mass in B minor to contemporary premieres by composers such as Oliver Knussen and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
The chorus collaborates with opera companies and institutions like the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham Hippodrome, English National Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and the Royal Opera House. Educational partnerships include outreach with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, CBSO Youth Orchestra, and community projects with groups such as Sing Up and arts charities including Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund initiatives. International partnerships have linked the chorus with conservatoires such as the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Conservatoire de Paris, and the Royal College of Music.
The ensemble and its recordings have received nominations and awards from institutions including the Gramophone Awards, Grammy Awards, Classic BRIT Awards, and the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards. Individual conductors and associated recordings have been honored by organisations such as the International Classical Music Awards, ECHO Klassik, and national honours like appointments to the Order of the British Empire and knighthoods awarded to artists connected with the chorus. The chorus's educational and community activities have been recognized by regional bodies such as the Birmingham City Council and cultural funders including Arts Council England.
Category:Choirs