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| Chorus of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chorus of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields |
| Origin | London, United Kingdom |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Genre | Choral, Classical, Baroque, Renaissance, Contemporary |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Associated acts | Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, Sir James Galway, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich |
Chorus of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields is a professional chamber choir established in London in 1970 to complement the Academy of St Martin in the Fields orchestra and to participate in liturgical and concert repertoire from Baroque music to contemporary composition. The ensemble has been associated with prominent conductors, soloists, and institutions such as Sir Neville Marriner, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Colin Davis, András Schiff, and has performed at venues including Royal Albert Hall, La Scala, and Carnegie Hall. Its work spans recordings, international tours, and premieres with composers and cultural organizations like the BBC and the Royal Opera House.
The choir was formed in London as a response to growing demand for a stable choral complement to the instrumental forces of the Academy and to perform on recordings for labels such as Philips Records and Decca Records. Early activity involved collaborations with figures from the Early music revival such as Christopher Hogwood and John Eliot Gardiner, while also establishing a relationship with broadcasters including the BBC Proms and producers at European Broadcasting Union events. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the ensemble expanded its profile through festival appearances at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Edinburgh International Festival, and the Salzburg Festival, and worked with conductors affiliated with orchestras like the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Institutional partnerships included residencies and broadcasts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and collaborations with choral schools such as King’s College, Cambridge on joint projects.
The choir’s repertoire embraces works by Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Antonio Vivaldi, extending to twentieth- and twenty-first-century composers like Benjamin Britten, Olivier Messiaen, Arvo Pärt, and John Tavener. The ensemble is noted for stylistic versatility, applying period-informed techniques when performing Baroque and Classical period scores and adopting modern choral approaches for romantic and contemporary works, often collaborating with historically informed performers such as Trevor Pinnock and Rachel Podger. Dynamic balance, clarity of diction, and transparent textures characterize performances alongside orchestras like the Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and in a cappella programs referencing repertories associated with Renaissance music and Gregorian chant.
Recordings with the choir have appeared on major labels including Philips Records, Decca Records, EMI Classics, and Chandos Records, featuring works such as the Mozart Requiem, Handel oratorios, and choral cycles by Bach. Productions have earned nominations and awards from institutions such as the Gramophone Awards, the Grammy Awards, and the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards. Notable recording projects include televised and disc versions of Handel’s Messiah and Bach’s Mass in B minor under conductors tied to international orchestras like the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Label collaborations extended to crossover projects with soloists such as Julian Lloyd Webber and Sir James Galway and media events with the BBC Proms and Classic FM.
The choir has worked with a wide array of soloists and ensembles, including partnerships with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Placido Domingo, Angela Gheorghiu, and choral directors from institutions like St Martin-in-the-Fields and Westminster Abbey. It has toured extensively across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australasia with appearances in cities such as Paris, Berlin, New York City, Tokyo, and Sydney, performing in halls like Wiener Musikverein, Concertgebouw, and Royal Festival Hall. Festival collaborations included invitations to the Aldeburgh Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, and the Lucerne Festival, and joint ventures with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Concertgebouw Orchestra.
The chorus comprises professional singers drawn from London’s choral and operatic scene, many of whom also sing with ensembles like The Sixteen, Monteverdi Choir, and VOCES8. Over the years conductors associated with the choir have included founding figures and guest leaders from institutions such as Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and conservatoires in Europe. Principal artistic contributors have worked alongside maestros like Sir Neville Marriner, Sir Colin Davis, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Valery Gergiev, and contemporary interpreters including Emmanuelle Haïm.
The ensemble has participated in high-profile events including performances of Handel’s Messiah for BBC Television broadcasts, televised services at St Paul’s Cathedral, and commemorative concerts at Wembley Stadium and the Royal Albert Hall for national occasions. It has been involved in premieres and commissions of works by composers such as Benjamin Britten affiliates, Arvo Pärt, and living composers featured at contemporary music venues and festivals like Cheltenham Music Festival and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Collaborations have produced first performances alongside orchestras like the Concertgebouw Orchestra and chamber projects presented at venues including Barbican Centre and Southbank Centre.
Category:Chamber choirs Category:British choirs