The Purcell Singers

The Purcell Singers is one of the most exciting young choirs in London today. Formed in 1994 by conductor and organist Mark Ford the choir continues to perform music old and new to great acclaim. The group released
its début CD recording Lay a Garland in December 1996 and made a première recording of works by the German late-romanticist Georg Schumann for ASV, which was released in August 2000 to very favourable reviews. The disc was Gramophone Critics' Choice in January 2002. This year, it has recorded a CD
of music for film and television entitled Metamorphosis for part of the EMI group and a further disc of Christmas carols is planned for later this year. Performing regularly around the country in venues such as St Paul's Cathedral, St James' Piccadilly and St John's Smith Square, the choir draws on talented and experienced singers from London and further afield.

JERUSALEM DU HOCHGEBAUTE STADT

One of London’s leading chamber choirs, The Purcell Singers was formed in 1994 by conductor and organist Mark Ford. It has performed extensively in London venues, including St James’s Piccadilly, Southwark and St Paul’s Cathedrals and St John’s Smith Square, and outside London at the Brighton and Howden Festivals, St Alban’s Cathedral and at the Langen Festival in Frankfurt. It has worked with leading soloists such as Stephen Varcoe and David Wilson-Johnson. The choir’s President is Sarah Walker CBE. The choir’s repertoire is wide, ranging from Gibbons to Tavener, via Bach, Howells, Poulenc, Barber and Britten, and it has developed a particular reputation for championing unusual late romantic works, notably those of the German composer Georg Schumann (1866-1952). The choir has so far recorded three CDs, including a première disc of works by Georg Schumann for ASV, which was Gramophone Magazine’s Critics’ Choice in January 2002, and of 18th century Swiss music for Guild. The choir’s fourth disc – Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt – completes the group’s recording of Georg Schumann’s motets.
The choir’s recordings have been frequently broadcast on the radio, and the choir has appeared on television. The choir is also active in session work, and has recorded several discs for film and television at Angel Studios, as well as film trailers at Abbey Road Studios. These tracks have been used for films including King Kong, War of the Worlds, and The Island.

Sopranos: Hilary Bentley, Carolynne Cox, Katherine Cox*, Sally Donegani, Melanie Downs*, Jane Goddard, Jenny Hill (soprano solo op. 71, 1), Laura Johnson, Jo Kilpatrick, Iris Korfker, Martine Kos, Laura Matters#, Sophie Miller*, Wendy Norman, Helen Price#, Anna Smajdor, Jan Smith#, Eleanor Whitehead, Susannah York Skinner

Altos: Rosemary Burch, Philippa Dodds John (alto solo op. 71, 3), Renée Foster McBride*, Ali Fryer#, Virginia Harding#, Alex Hayes#, Deirdre Heaney, Charlotte Hicks, Rachel Kershaw*,
Anna McKeon*, Lorna Perry, Giles Pilgrim Morris, Alison St Denis

Tenors: Michael Ahmad*, Ian Brentnall#, Tony Damer#, Colin Fleming, Philip Harradine-Robinson, Michael Hope*, Larry Howes, Ian MacGregor#, Tom Stapleton*, Ambrose Viall, Justin Williams

Basses: Craig Bissex#, Paul Bonter, Jonathan Dods, Quentin Evans, Dominic Evers#,Rainer Grämer, Martin Lawrence*, Stephen Metcalfe, Alan Miller, Chris Moore*, Peter Smith, Mark Williams
(* 5 November only # 12 November only)

The Purcell Singers on Guild Music

• GMCD 7311 Jerusselem du hochgebaute Stadt
• GMCD 7255  The Seasons in Zurich - Choral Music of  18th Century

Page revised Monday 11 June 2007