|
This acclaimed choral
group was founded in London
1951 by the viola player, BBC Music Department member and musicologist,
Denis Stevens, and the tenor soloist John McCarthy. Originally it was a small choral group
who aimed to give authentic renditions of the complex choral music of the
Medieval and Renaissance periods and its first professional engagement was
on The History of Western Music
BBC series. Denis Stevens left
in 1955 to join Cornell University
but in 1956 a group of six from the original choir founded the Ambrosian
Consort. This group of six
evolved over time and now has around 700 professional singers that perform
in all kinds of TV and film, concert, opera and recording work. The Ambrosian Singers are also
known as the John McCarthy Singers and the Ambrosian Opera Chorus among
other names, and while John McCarthy worked at the London Symphony
Orchestra as choral director, the group was known as the London Symphony
Orchestra Chorus. They have recorded
many types of works including Baroque operas, Renaissance, film scores,
Christmas albums and collaborations with popular artists including Van
Morrison and Neil Diamond.
Their film scores include Chariots
of Fire, Krull and Brainstorm, as well as excerpt
albums of original scores.
New Philharmonia Orchestra recordings
Angels We Have Heard on High (Traditional
French/James Chadwick/Edward Barnes)
London 421-095 (CD: Joy of Christmas)
Conductor -
Richard Bonynge
Soprano - Joan
Sutherland
Ambrosian Singers
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recordings
Christmas Carol, A - Suite (Richard Addinsell)
Telarc 89408 88012 (CD: It's A Wonderful Life/A Christmas
Carol/Miracle on 34th Street
)
Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor - David Newman
Source:
- http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Ambrosian-Singers.htm
|
