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{{short description|British choral group}}
{{short description|British choral group}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|London Symphony Orchestra Chorus|London Symphony Chorus}}
{{use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{use British English|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
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* [[John Shirley-Quirk]]
* [[John Shirley-Quirk]]
}}
}}
The '''Ambrosian Singers''' are one of the best-known London choral groups, particularly appreciated for their great variety of recorded repertory.
The '''Ambrosian Singers''' are an English choral group based in London.


==History==
==History==
⚫
They were founded after [[World War II]] in England. One of their co-founders was [[Denis Stevens]] (1922–2004),<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/em/32.4.643 |title=Denis Stevens (1922-2004) |journal=Early Music |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=643–644 |year=2004 |last1=Dobbins |first1=F. |s2cid=194050893 }}</ref> a British musicologist and [[viola]] player who joined the [[BBC Music]] Department in 1949 and developed programs of [[Renaissance]] and early [[Baroque music]]. Stevens conducted them from 1956 to 1960.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Boden |first1=Anthony |title=Thomas Tomkins: The Last Elizabethan |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-53917-3 |page=X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jS4rDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22ambrosian%22&pg=PP1}}</ref> The other was [[John McCarthy (conductor)|John McCarthy]] (1919–2009), a professional [[tenor]] soloist. McCarthy continued to conduct them until the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Opus |date=1988 |volume=4 |issue=2 |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzFLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Ambrosian%22+%22McCarthy%22|title=Opus }}</ref> During the 1960s the choir called on the services of between 600 and 700 singers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=John |first1=McCarthy |journal=The Amor Artis Bulletin |date=1967 |volume=6 |issue=9–10 |pages=12–19 }}{{full citation needed|date=August 2019}}</ref>


⚫
They organised and created the Ambrosian Singers as a small professional chorus in 1951, initially to sing polyphonic choruses for renaissance and medieval pieces for ''The History of Music'' series. However, their repertoire greatly expanded afterwards. Depending on the style to be sung and on the occasion, they may go by the names "'''the Ambrosian Light Opera Chorus'''", "'''the Ambrosian Chorus'''", the "'''Ambrosian Choir'''" or "'''London Symphony Orchestra Chorus'''".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shenton |first1=Kenneth |title=John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mccarthy-charismatic-choral-conductor-and-arranger-1712389.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2009}}</ref> In 1956 a six-singer group was founded within the Ambrosian Singers called "the Ambrosian Consort", specialising in the singing of Renaissance music in period languages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sadie |first1=Stanley |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Volume 11 |date=1980 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers |isbn=0333231112 |pages=191, 412 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lENAQAAIAAJ&q=Ambrosian+Consort |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
⚫
They were founded after [[World War II]] in England. One of their co-founders was [[Denis Stevens]] (1922–2004),<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1093/em/32.4.643 |title=Denis Stevens (1922-2004) |journal=Early Music |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=643–644 |year=2004 |last1=Dobbins |first1=F. |s2cid=194050893 }}</ref> a British musicologist and [[viola]] player who joined the [[BBC Music]] Department in 1949 and developed programs of [[Renaissance]] and early [[Baroque music]]. Stevens conducted them from 1956 to 1960.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Boden |first1=Anthony |title=Thomas Tomkins: The Last Elizabethan |date=2017 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-53917-3 |page=X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jS4rDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22ambrosian%22&pg=PP1}}</ref> The other was [[John McCarthy (conductor)|John McCarthy]] (1919–2009), a professional [[tenor]] soloist. McCarthy continued to conduct them until the late 1980s.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Opus |date=1988 |volume=4 |issue=2 |page=2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FzFLAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Ambrosian%22+%22McCarthy%22|title=Opus }}</ref> During the 1960s the choir consisted of 600–700 singers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=John |first1=McCarthy |journal=The Amor Artis Bulletin |date=1967 |volume=6 |issue=9–10 |pages=12–19 }}{{full citation needed|date=August 2019}}</ref>

⚫
They organised and created the Ambrosian Singers as a small professional chorus in 1951, initially to sing polyphonic choruses for renaissance and medieval pieces for ''The History of Music'' series. However, their repertoire greatly expanded afterwards. Depending on the style to be sung and on the occasion, they may go by the names "the Ambrosian Light Opera Chorus", "the Ambrossian Chorus", the "Ambrosian Choir" or "London Symphony Orchestra Chorus".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shenton |first1=Kenneth |title=John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mccarthy-charismatic-choral-conductor-and-arranger-1712389.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2009}}</ref> In 1956 a six-singer group was founded within the Ambrosian Singers called "the Ambrosian Consort", specialising in the singing of Renaissance music in period languages.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sadie |first1=Stanley |title=The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Volume 11 |date=1980 |publisher=Macmillan Publishers |isbn=0333231112 |pages=191, 412 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lENAQAAIAAJ&q=Ambrosian+Consort |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>


The Ambrosian singers have been the training ground for a large number of professional artists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shenton |first1=Kenneth |title=John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mccarthy-charismatic-choral-conductor-and-arranger-1712389.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2009}}</ref> Famous members have included [[Heather Harper]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Millington |first1=Barry |title=Heather Harper Obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/22/heather-harper-obituary |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=22 April 2019}}</ref> [[Dorothy Dorow]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Dorothy Dorow Obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/05/07/dorothy-dorow-soprano-obituary/ |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=7 May 2017}}</ref> [[Janet Baker]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Michael |title=MUSIC Happy 80th birthday, Dame Janet Baker |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/08/happy-80th-birthday-dame-janet-baker/ |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Spectator |date=17 August 2013}}</ref> [[Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)|Sarah Walker]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Williams Macy |first1=Laura |title=The Grove Book of Opera Singers |date=2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533765-5 |page=528 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0zthpCZuAUC&dq=%22Ambrosian+Singers%22&pg=PA528 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> [[Margaret Price]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Dame Margaret Price |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8291584/Dame-Margaret-Price.html |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=30 Jan 2011}}</ref> [[Robert Tear]], [[Ian Partridge]] and [[John Shirley-Quirk]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shenton |first1=Kenneth |title=John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mccarthy-charismatic-choral-conductor-and-arranger-1712389.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2009}}</ref>
The Ambrosian singers have been the training ground for a large number of professional artists.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shenton |first1=Kenneth |title=John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mccarthy-charismatic-choral-conductor-and-arranger-1712389.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2009}}</ref> Famous members have included [[Heather Harper]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Millington |first1=Barry |title=Heather Harper Obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/22/heather-harper-obituary |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=22 April 2019}}</ref> [[Dorothy Dorow]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Dorothy Dorow Obituary |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2017/05/07/dorothy-dorow-soprano-obituary/ |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=7 May 2017}}</ref> [[Janet Baker]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Michael |title=MUSIC Happy 80th birthday, Dame Janet Baker |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/08/happy-80th-birthday-dame-janet-baker/ |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Spectator |date=17 August 2013}}</ref> [[Sarah Walker (mezzo-soprano)|Sarah Walker]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Williams Macy |first1=Laura |title=The Grove Book of Opera Singers |date=2008 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533765-5 |page=528 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N0zthpCZuAUC&dq=%22Ambrosian+Singers%22&pg=PA528 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> [[Margaret Price]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Dame Margaret Price |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8291584/Dame-Margaret-Price.html |access-date=21 August 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=30 Jan 2011}}</ref> [[Robert Tear]], [[Ian Partridge]] and [[John Shirley-Quirk]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shenton |first1=Kenneth |title=John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/john-mccarthy-charismatic-choral-conductor-and-arranger-1712389.html |access-date=22 August 2019 |work=The Independent |date=22 June 2009}}</ref>


Ambrosian Singers have participated in numerous Christmas albums, appeared in albums with such pop and rock artists as [[Neil Diamond]], [[Grace Jones]], [[Talk Talk]], [[Julie Andrews]], etc., and sung in several [[Studio recording|studio cast album]]s of Broadway musicals. They have participated in various film soundtrack scores such as ''[[Brainstorm (1983 film)|Brainstorm]]'', ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'', ''[[Krull (film)|Krull]]'', ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'', ''[[Children of the Stones]]'' and ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'', and in some albums of Italian films: Film Scores of [[Ennio Morricone]] and [[Nino Rota]] (conducted by [[Henry Mancini]], collections of [[Miklos Rozsa]] scores, and original scores from MGM classic musicals. They did the introduction vocals for the song "Inside" by [[Stiltskin]] in 1994. They also were the chorus that sang Mozart's Requiem in the film ''[[Amadeus (film)|Amadeus]]''. In 1962, the Ambrosian Singers also recorded as the Norman Luboff Choir for the RCA Victor album “Inspiration” with the New Symphony Orchestra of London conducted by Leopold Stokowski.<ref>[https://amtorrent.info/watch/3aejiIFrgn-ionw.html “DEEP RIVER - NORMAN LUBOFF CHOIR; STOKOWSKI CONDUCTS”] AM Torrent, retrieved December 9, 2019</ref>
Ambrosian Singers have participated in numerous Christmas albums, appeared in albums with such pop and rock artists as [[Neil Diamond]], [[Grace Jones]], [[Talk Talk]], [[Julie Andrews]], etc., and sung in several [[Studio recording|studio cast album]]s of Broadway musicals. They have participated in various film soundtrack scores such as ''[[Brainstorm (1983 film)|Brainstorm]]'', ''[[Empire of the Sun (film)|Empire of the Sun]]'', ''[[Krull (film)|Krull]]'', ''[[Chariots of Fire]]'', ''[[Children of the Stones]]'' and ''[[The Secret of NIMH]]'', and in some albums of Italian films: Film Scores of [[Ennio Morricone]] and [[Nino Rota]] (conducted by [[Henry Mancini]], collections of [[Miklos Rozsa]] scores, and original scores from MGM classic musicals. They did the introduction vocals for the song "Inside" by [[Stiltskin]] in 1994. They also were the chorus that sang Mozart's Requiem in the film ''[[Amadeus (film)|Amadeus]]''. In 1962, the Ambrosian Singers also recorded as the Norman Luboff Choir for the RCA Victor album "Inspiration" with the New Symphony Orchestra of London conducted by Leopold Stokowski.<ref>[https://amtorrent.info/watch/3aejiIFrgn-ionw.html "DEEP RIVER - NORMAN LUBOFF CHOIR; STOKOWSKI CONDUCTS"] AM Torrent, retrieved 9 December 2019</ref>


==''Show Boat'' controversy==
==''Show Boat'' controversy==

In 1987, the Ambrosian Singers took part in [[John McGlinn]]'s recording of ''[[Showboat (musical)|Show Boat]]'', an album performed by singers drawn from the worlds of both opera and popular music. The recording invited controversy, as the lyrics of the original 1927 score used by McGlinn included the racially offensive word "[[nigger]]".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cornelius |first1=Steven |last2=Natvig |first2=Mary |title=Music: A Social Experience |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1315404295 |page=164 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GKhJDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ambrosian%22+&pg=PA164 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> Originally an all-black British choir had been intended to sing the "black" roles in the musical, but they had walked out after discovering the content of the lyrics that they were going to be required to sing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Florjancic |first1=Linda M. |title="We'll Find a New Way of Living:" Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story |url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1124769084 |website=Ohio.Gov |publisher=Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. University of Akron |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> As a consequence, the Ambrosian Singers sang both the "white" and the "black" parts of the musical.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Todd R. |title=Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-025053-9 |pages=209–210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uHMRDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ambrosian+Chorus%22&pg=PA209 |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> The recording was arranged by [[EMI]] who "didn't care they were white".<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-92471-7_10 |chapter=On Stage and Screen |title=Performing Music History |pages=289–326 |year=2018 |last1=Tibbetts |first1=John C. |isbn=978-3-319-92470-0 }}</ref> The recording went on to be a critical and commercial success, leading to other opera singers' being invited to perform pieces from Broadway musicals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haywood |first1=Tony |title=RECORDING OF THE MONTH: Jerome KERN (1885-1945) Show Boat (1927) |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Jan07/Kern_Showboat_3615432.htm |website=MusicWeb International |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>
In 1987, the Ambrosian Singers took part in [[John McGlinn]]'s recording of ''[[Showboat (musical)|Show Boat]]'', an album performed by singers drawn from the worlds of both opera and popular music. The recording invited controversy, as the lyrics of the original 1927 score used by McGlinn included the racially offensive word "[[nigger]]".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cornelius |first1=Steven |last2=Natvig |first2=Mary |title=Music: A Social Experience |date=2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1315404295 |page=164 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GKhJDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ambrosian%22+&pg=PA164 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> Originally an all-black British choir had been intended to sing the "black" roles in the musical, but they had walked out after discovering the content of the lyrics that they were going to be required to sing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Florjancic |first1=Linda M. |title="We'll Find a New Way of Living:" Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story |url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1124769084 |website=Ohio.Gov |publisher=Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. University of Akron |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> As a consequence, the Ambrosian Singers sang both the "white" and the "black" parts of the musical.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Todd R. |title=Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-025053-9 |pages=209–210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uHMRDAAAQBAJ&dq=%22Ambrosian+Chorus%22&pg=PA209 |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> The recording was arranged by [[EMI]] who "didn't care they were white".<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-92471-7_10 |chapter=On Stage and Screen |title=Performing Music History |pages=289–326 |year=2018 |last1=Tibbetts |first1=John C. |isbn=978-3-319-92470-0 }}</ref> The recording went on to be a critical and commercial success, leading to other opera singers' being invited to perform pieces from Broadway musicals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Haywood |first1=Tony |title=RECORDING OF THE MONTH: Jerome KERN (1885-1945) Show Boat (1927) |url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2007/Jan07/Kern_Showboat_3615432.htm |website=MusicWeb International |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref>


==Involvement in opera==
==Involvement in opera==
The Ambrosian Singers are also called the '''Ambrosian Opera Chorus'''. or the '''Ambrosian Chorus'''. or the '''Ambrosian Choir'''. The ensemble has made numerous recordings of complete operas under various noted conductors including [[Zubin Mehta]], [[Carlo Maria Giulini]], [[Claudio Abbado]], [[Lamberto Gardelli]], [[Nello Santi]], [[Julius Rudel]], [[Georges Prêtre]] and many more. From 1961 to 1966, when McCarthy was a choral director of the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], the Ambrosian Singers were known as the '''London Symphony Orchestra Chorus'''.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/ambrosian-opera-chorus Also known as London Symphony Orchestra Chorus].</ref>
The Ambrosian Singers are also called the '''Ambrosian Opera Chorus''', or the '''Ambrosian Chorus''', or the '''Ambrosian Choir'''. The ensemble has made numerous recordings of complete operas under various noted conductors including [[Zubin Mehta]], [[Carlo Maria Giulini]], [[Claudio Abbado]], [[Lamberto Gardelli]], [[Nello Santi]], [[Julius Rudel]], [[Georges Prêtre]] and many more. From 1961 to 1966, when McCarthy was a choral director of the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], the Ambrosian Singers were known as the '''London Symphony Orchestra Chorus'''.<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/ambrosian-opera-chorus Also known as London Symphony Orchestra Chorus].</ref>


Under various names (''Ambrosian Singers, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Ambrosian Chorus, Ambrosian Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Chorus or The John McCarthy Singers''), the ensemble has appeared in various type of recording albums with many renowned operatic singers, recording recitals, sacred music, selected arias and complete operas with [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa]], [[Luciano Pavarotti]], [[Plácido Domingo]], [[José Carreras]] and many more.
Under various names (''Ambrosian Singers, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Ambrosian Chorus, Ambrosian Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Chorus or The John McCarthy Singers''), the ensemble has appeared in various type of recording albums with many renowned operatic singers, recording recitals, sacred music, selected arias and complete operas with [[Montserrat Caballé]], [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa]], [[Luciano Pavarotti]], [[Plácido Domingo]], [[José Carreras]] and many more.


Their singing style has been described variously as "stylish",<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ambrosian Singers and Consort |journal=Records in Review |date=1969 |volume=14 |page=466 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PX3gAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Ambrosian+Singers%22 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> nimble,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ambrosian Singers and Consort: German Music |journal=High Fidelity |date=1968 |volume=18 |issue=7–12 |page=131 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S0FLAAAAYAAJ&q=Ambrosian+Consort |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> and "like an obedient battalion".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hasted |first1=Nick |title=Enlightenment |journal=Uncut |date=2016 |pages=86–87 |url=https://search.proquest.com/openview/a9669023d256fa9e7d72440735fd1759/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1996336 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>
Their singing style has been described variously as "stylish",<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ambrosian Singers and Consort |journal=Records in Review |date=1969 |volume=14 |page=466 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PX3gAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Ambrosian+Singers%22 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> nimble,<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ambrosian Singers and Consort: German Music |journal=High Fidelity |date=1968 |volume=18 |issue=7–12 |page=131 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=S0FLAAAAYAAJ&q=Ambrosian+Consort |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> and "like an obedient battalion".<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hasted |first1=Nick |title=Enlightenment |journal=Uncut |date=2016 |pages=86–87 |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/a9669023d256fa9e7d72440735fd1759/1.pdf?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=1996336 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>


==Selected operatic discography==
==Selected operatic discography==
Line 229: Line 228:


'' Puccini: [Madama Butterfly]''
'' Puccini: [Madama Butterfly]''
/Mirella Freni, Jose Carreras, Teresa Bergnza,etc
/Mirella Freni, Jose Carreras, Teresa Bergnza,etc.
/Ambrosian Opera Chorus/Philharmonia Orchestra/Giuseppe Sinopoli
/Ambrosian Opera Chorus/Philharmonia Orchestra/Giuseppe Sinopoli
/1988 Polydor International Gmbh, Hamburg
/1988 Polydor International Gmbh, Hamburg
Line 303: Line 302:
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1951]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1951]]
[[Category:1951 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1951 establishments in England]]
[[Category:London Symphony Orchestra]]

Latest revision as of 00:23, 12 November 2024

"London Symphony Orchestra Chorus" redirects here. Not to be confused with London Symphony Chorus.

Ambrosian Singers
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Years active1951–present
Past members

The Ambrosian Singers are an English choral group based in London.

History

[edit]

They were founded after World War II in England. One of their co-founders was Denis Stevens (1922–2004),[1] a British musicologist and viola player who joined the BBC Music Department in 1949 and developed programs of Renaissance and early Baroque music. Stevens conducted them from 1956 to 1960.[2] The other was John McCarthy (1919–2009), a professional tenor soloist. McCarthy continued to conduct them until the late 1980s.[3] During the 1960s the choir called on the services of between 600 and 700 singers.[4]

They organised and created the Ambrosian Singers as a small professional chorus in 1951, initially to sing polyphonic choruses for renaissance and medieval pieces for The History of Music series. However, their repertoire greatly expanded afterwards. Depending on the style to be sung and on the occasion, they may go by the names "the Ambrosian Light Opera Chorus", "the Ambrosian Chorus", the "Ambrosian Choir" or "London Symphony Orchestra Chorus".[5] In 1956 a six-singer group was founded within the Ambrosian Singers called "the Ambrosian Consort", specialising in the singing of Renaissance music in period languages.[6]

The Ambrosian singers have been the training ground for a large number of professional artists.[7] Famous members have included Heather Harper,[8] Dorothy Dorow,[9] Janet Baker,[10] Sarah Walker,[11] Margaret Price,[12] Robert Tear, Ian Partridge and John Shirley-Quirk.[13]

Ambrosian Singers have participated in numerous Christmas albums, appeared in albums with such pop and rock artists as Neil Diamond, Grace Jones, Talk Talk, Julie Andrews, etc., and sung in several studio cast albums of Broadway musicals. They have participated in various film soundtrack scores such as Brainstorm, Empire of the Sun, Krull, Chariots of Fire, Children of the Stones and The Secret of NIMH, and in some albums of Italian films: Film Scores of Ennio Morricone and Nino Rota (conducted by Henry Mancini, collections of Miklos Rozsa scores, and original scores from MGM classic musicals. They did the introduction vocals for the song "Inside" by Stiltskin in 1994. They also were the chorus that sang Mozart's Requiem in the film Amadeus. In 1962, the Ambrosian Singers also recorded as the Norman Luboff Choir for the RCA Victor album "Inspiration" with the New Symphony Orchestra of London conducted by Leopold Stokowski.[14]

Show Boat controversy

[edit]

In 1987, the Ambrosian Singers took part in John McGlinn's recording of Show Boat, an album performed by singers drawn from the worlds of both opera and popular music. The recording invited controversy, as the lyrics of the original 1927 score used by McGlinn included the racially offensive word "nigger".[15] Originally an all-black British choir had been intended to sing the "black" roles in the musical, but they had walked out after discovering the content of the lyrics that they were going to be required to sing.[16] As a consequence, the Ambrosian Singers sang both the "white" and the "black" parts of the musical.[17] The recording was arranged by EMI who "didn't care they were white".[18] The recording went on to be a critical and commercial success, leading to other opera singers' being invited to perform pieces from Broadway musicals.[19]

Involvement in opera

[edit]

The Ambrosian Singers are also called the Ambrosian Opera Chorus, or the Ambrosian Chorus, or the Ambrosian Choir. The ensemble has made numerous recordings of complete operas under various noted conductors including Zubin Mehta, Carlo Maria Giulini, Claudio Abbado, Lamberto Gardelli, Nello Santi, Julius Rudel, Georges Prêtre and many more. From 1961 to 1966, when McCarthy was a choral director of the London Symphony Orchestra, the Ambrosian Singers were known as the London Symphony Orchestra Chorus.[20]

Under various names (Ambrosian Singers, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Ambrosian Chorus, Ambrosian Choir, London Symphony Orchestra Chorus or The John McCarthy Singers), the ensemble has appeared in various type of recording albums with many renowned operatic singers, recording recitals, sacred music, selected arias and complete operas with Montserrat Caballé, Joan Sutherland, Kiri Te Kanawa, Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, José Carreras and many more.

Their singing style has been described variously as "stylish",[21] nimble,[22] and "like an obedient battalion".[23]

Selected operatic discography

[edit]
Year Composer,
Opera 		Cast Conductor,
Opera House and Orchestra 		Label
1964 Bellini: Beatrice di Tenda Joan Sutherland,
Cornelius Opthof,
Luciano Pavarotti, et al. 		Richard Bonynge,
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Decca
Cat:
1966 Rossini: Semiramide Joan Sutherland,
Marilyn Horne,
Joseph Rouleau, et al. 		Richard Bonynge,
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Decca
Cat:
1966 Gounod: Faust Joan Sutherland,
Franco Corelli,
Nicolai Ghiaurov, et al. 		Richard Bonynge,
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Decca
Cat:
1969 Verdi: La forza del destino Martina Arroyo,
Carlo Bergonzi,
Piero Cappuccilli, et al. 		Lamberto Gardelli,
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: EMI
Cat:
Donizetti: Roberto Devereux Beverly Sills,
Róbert Ilosfalvy,
Peter Glossop,
Beverly Wolff 		Charles Mackerras
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Westminster
Cat:
Verdi: Il trovatore Plácido Domingo,
Sherrill Milnes,
Leontyne Price, et al. 		Zubin Mehta
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Chorus 		Audio CD: RCA
Cat: 6194-2
Cat: 86194
1970 Verdi: Don Carlos Plácido Domingo,
Montserrat Caballé,
Sherill Milnes, et al. 		Carlo Maria Giulini
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Ambrosian Chorus 		Audio CD: Angel Records
Cat: 47701
Donizetti: L'elisir d'amore Joan Sutherland,
Luciano Pavarotti,
Spiro Malas, et al. 		Richard Bonynge
English Chamber Orchestra
Ambrosian Chorus 		Audio CD: Angel Records
Cat: 47701
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor Beverly Sills,
Carlo Bergonzi,
Piero Cappuccilli,
Justino Diaz 		Thomas Schippers
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Westminster
Cat:
Massenet: Manon Beverly Sills,
Nicolai Gedda,
Gérard Souzay,
Gabriel Bacquier 		Julius Rudel
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: EMI
Cat:
Deutsche Grammophon
Cat:
1971 Verdi: I Lombardi alla prima crociata Plácido Domingo,
Cristina Deutekom,
Ruggero Raimondi, et al. 		Lamberto Gardelli
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Philips
Cat: 422 420–2
Puccini: Manon Lescaut Montserrat Caballé,
Plácido Domingo,
Vincente Sardinero, et al. 		Bruno Bartoletti (Studio)
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: EMI Classic
Cat: 7 47736-8
Verdi: Rigoletto Luciano Pavarotti,
Sherrill Milnes,
Joan Sutherland, et al. 		Richard Bonynge,
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Decca
Cat: 414–269–2
Rossini: Il Barbiere di Siviglia Hermann Prey,
Teresa Berganza,
Luigi Alva,
Enzo Dara, Paolo Montarsolo 		Claudio Abbado
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Deutsche Grammophon
Cat:
1972 Bellini: Norma Plácido Domingo,
Montserrat Caballé,
Fiorenza Cossotto, et al. 		Carlo Felice Cillario
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: RCA
Cat: 6502-2
Cat: 8650
Verdi: Atila Ruggero Raimondi,
Carlo Bergonzi,
Christina Deutekom, et al. 		Lamberto Gardelli,
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Philips
Cat: 412–875–2
Verdi: Giovanna d'Arco Montserrat Caballé,
Plácido Domingo,
Sherrill Milnes, et al. 		James Levine
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: EMI Classics
Cat: 63226-2
Angel Records
Cat: 63226
1973 Boito: Mefistofele Plácido Domingo,
Norman Treigle,
Montserrat Caballé, et al. 		Julius Rudel (Studio)
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Angel
Cat: 49522
EMI
Cat: 49522-2
Bellini: I Puritani Beverly Sills,
Nicolai Gedda,
Louis Quilico,
Paul Plishka 		Julius Rudel
London Philharmonic Orchestra,
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Westminster The Legacy
Cat: 471 207–2
1975 Massenet: La Navarraise Plácido Domingo,
Sherrill Milnes,
Marilyn Horne, et al. 		Henry Lewis
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: RCA Victor
Cat: 50167
1976 Montemezzi: L'amore dei tre re Plácido Domingo,
Pablo Elvira,
Elizabeth Bainbridge, et al. 		Nello Santi,
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: RCA
Cat: 50166
Charpentier: Louise Ileana Cotrubas,
Plácido Domingo,
Gabriel Bacquier, et al. 		Georges Prêtre
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Sony Classical
Cat: 46429
Puccini: Il Trittico
(Il tabarro / Gianni Schicchi) 		Plácido Domingo,
Renata Scotto,
Ileana Cotrubas, et al. 		Lorin Maazel
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: CBS
Cat: 35912
Cat: 79312
Puccini: Tosca Plácido Domingo,
Raina Kabaivanska,
Sherrill Milnes, et al. 		Bruno Bartoletti (Film)
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		DVD: Deutsche Grammophon
Cat: 00440 073 4038
1977 Cilea: Adriana Lecouvreur Plácido Domingo,
Renata Scotto,
Sherrill Milnes, et al. 		James Levine (Studio)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Sony Classical
Cat: 34588
CBS
Cat: 79310
Thomas: Mignon Marilyn Horne,
Frederica von Stade,
Alain Vanzo,
Ruth Welting,
Nicola Zaccaria, et al. 		Antonio de Almeida
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Sony Classical
Cat: SM3K 34590
For details, see Mignon (Antonio de Almeida recording)
Verdi: Otello Plácido Domingo,
Renata Scotto,
Sherrill Milnes, et al. 		James Levine
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian singers 		Audio CD: RCA
Cat: 2951
Cat: 82951-2
Bizet: Carmen Teresa Berganza,
Plácido Domingo,
Ileana Cotrubas, et al. 		Claudio Abbado
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Singers 		Audio CD: Deutsche Grammophon
Cat: 427 885–2
1978 Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana Plácido Domingo,
Pablo Elvira,
Renata Scotto, et al. 		James Levine (Studio)
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: RCA
Cat: 83091
BMG Classics
Cat: 74321 39500 2
Brilliant Classics
Cat: 6251
Puccini: Madama Butterfly Plácido Domingo,
Renata Scotto,
Ingvar Wixell, et al. 		Lorin Maazel (Studio)
London Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: CBS
Cat: 35181
Sony
Cat: 91135

Puccini: [Madama Butterfly] /Mirella Freni, Jose Carreras, Teresa Bergnza,etc. /Ambrosian Opera Chorus/Philharmonia Orchestra/Giuseppe Sinopoli /1988 Polydor International Gmbh, Hamburg

Verdi: Nabucco Matteo Manuguerra,
Veriano Luchetti
Nicolai Ghiaurov
Renata Scotto,
Elena Obraztsova 		Riccardo Muti
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: CBS,
Cat: 4564472
EMI
The Opera Series
Donizetti: Don Pasquale Beverly Sills,
Donald Gramm,
Alfredo Kraus,
Alan Titus 		Sarah Caldwell
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: EMI
Cat:
1978 Massenet: Cendrillon Frederica von Stade,
Nicolai Gedda,
Ruth Welting,
Jane Berbié,
Jules Bastin 		Julius Rudel
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Sony Classical
Cat: M2K 79323
For details, see Cendrillon (Julius Rudel recording)
1979 Puccini: Le Villi Plácido Domingo,
Renata Scotto,
Leo Nucci, et al. 		Lorin Maazel
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: CBS
Cat: 36669
Cat: 76890
1979 Rossini: William Tell Sherrill Milnes,
Luciano Pavarotti,
Mirella Freni, et al. 		Riccardo Chailly
National Philharmonic Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Decca
Cat: 4757723
1980 Puccini: Tosca Plácido Domingo,
Renato Bruson,
Renato Capecchi, et al. 		James Levine (Studio)
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD: Angel
Cat: 49364
EMI
Cat: 49364-2
1982 Puccini: La rondine Plácido Domingo,
Kiri Te Kanawa,
Leo Nucci, et al. 		Lorin Maazel
London Symphony Orchestra
Ambrosian Chorus 		Audio CD: CBS
Cat: M2K-37852
1985 Verdi: La forza del destino Rosalind Plowright,
José Carreras,
Renato Bruson, et al. 		Giuseppe Sinopoli,
Philharmonia Orchestra
Ambrosian Opera Chorus 		Audio CD:Deutsche Grammophon
Cat:

Note: "Cat:" is short for catalogue number by the label company.

Musical theatre discography

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References

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  1. ^ Dobbins, F. (2004). "Denis Stevens (1922-2004)". Early Music. 32 (4): 643–644. doi:10.1093/em/32.4.643. S2CID 194050893.
  2. ^ Boden, Anthony (2017). Thomas Tomkins: The Last Elizabethan. Routledge. p. X. ISBN 978-1-351-53917-3.
  3. ^ "Opus". Opus. 4 (2): 2. 1988.
  4. ^ John, McCarthy (1967). The Amor Artis Bulletin. 6 (9–10): 12–19. {{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[full citation needed]
  5. ^ Shenton, Kenneth (22 June 2009). "John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger". The Independent. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  6. ^ Sadie, Stanley (1980). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Volume 11. Macmillan Publishers. pp. 191, 412. ISBN 0333231112. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  7. ^ Shenton, Kenneth (22 June 2009). "John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger". The Independent. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  8. ^ Millington, Barry (22 April 2019). "Heather Harper Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Dorothy Dorow Obituary". The Telegraph. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  10. ^ Kennedy, Michael (17 August 2013). "MUSIC Happy 80th birthday, Dame Janet Baker". The Spectator. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  11. ^ Williams Macy, Laura (2008). The Grove Book of Opera Singers. Oxford University Press. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-19-533765-5. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Dame Margaret Price". The Telegraph. 30 January 2011. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  13. ^ Shenton, Kenneth (22 June 2009). "John McCarthy: Charismatic choral conductor and arranger". The Independent. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  14. ^ "DEEP RIVER - NORMAN LUBOFF CHOIR; STOKOWSKI CONDUCTS" AM Torrent, retrieved 9 December 2019
  15. ^ Cornelius, Steven; Natvig, Mary (2016). Music: A Social Experience. Routledge. p. 164. ISBN 978-1315404295. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  16. ^ Florjancic, Linda M. ""We'll Find a New Way of Living:" Racism in Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I and West Side Story". Ohio.Gov. Electronic Thesis or Dissertation. University of Akron. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  17. ^ Decker, Todd R. (2013). Show Boat: Performing Race in an American Musical. Oxford University Press. pp. 209–210. ISBN 978-0-19-025053-9. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  18. ^ Tibbetts, John C. (2018). "On Stage and Screen". Performing Music History. pp. 289–326. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-92471-7_10. ISBN 978-3-319-92470-0.
  19. ^ Haywood, Tony. "RECORDING OF THE MONTH: Jerome KERN (1885-1945) Show Boat (1927)". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  20. ^ Also known as London Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
  21. ^ "Ambrosian Singers and Consort". Records in Review. 14: 466. 1969. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  22. ^ "Ambrosian Singers and Consort: German Music". High Fidelity. 18 (7–12): 131. 1968. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  23. ^ Hasted, Nick (2016). "Enlightenment" (PDF). Uncut: 86–87. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
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