Notes for Editors

Chorus Director: Simon Halsey

Chairman: Lydia Frankenburg

LSC Administrator/ LSO Choral Projects Manager: Andra East

andra.east@lso.co.uk

020 7382 2518

A short history of the LSC and photos are available from the Administrator

LSC Biography 2012/2013

The London Symphony Chorus was formed in 1966 to complement the work of the London Symphony Orchestra and continues to maintain a close association with the orchestra today. The LSC has also partnered the principal UK orchestras and internationally has worked with both the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras, the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the European Youth Orchestra, among others. To further strengthen the link between the LSC and the LSO, Simon Halsey was appointed both LSC Chorus Director and LSO Choral Director in 2012.

Along with regular appearances at the major London venues, the LSC tours extensively throughout Europe and has visited North America, Israel, Australia and South East Asia. This season’s highlights include performances of Brahms’ German Requiem and Szymanowski’s 3rd Symphony with the LSO under Valery Gergiev at the Barbican; this concert will also tour to Luxembourg and Paris. Later in the season the Chorus will rejoin Maestro Gergiev and the LSO for performances of Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater. Other concerts this season include Mozart’s Requiem under Sir Colin Davis and Berlioz’sDamantion of  Faust with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Charles Dutoit.

The Chorus has recorded widely, with recent releases including Haydn’s The Seasons, Britten’s War Requiem under Gianandrea Noseda and the world premiere recording of James MacMillan’s St John Passion. The LSC also partners the LSO on Gergiev’s recordings of Mahler’s Symphonies 2, 3 and 8. The men of the Chorus took part in the Gramophone award-winning recording of Götterdämmerung with the Hallé under Sir Mark Elder.

The Chorus has commissioned works from composers such as Sir John Tavener, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Michael Berkeley and Jonathan Dove, and took part in the world premiere of James MacMillan’s St John Passion with the LSO and Sir Colin Davis in 2008. The Chorus will be performing Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year again this season with Simon Halsey.

The London Symphony Chorus is always interested in recruiting new members, welcoming applications from singers of all backgrounds, subject to passing an audition. For further information call Aoife McInerney, Audtion Secretary, on 07884 251716 or email auditions@lsc.org.uk.