The Chichester Singers

Name: Elgar – <em>The Dream of Gerontius</em>
Start: 2020-11-14T19:30:00+00:00
End: 2020-11-14T19:30:00+00:00
Location: Chichester Cathedral

One of the South's Leading Amateur Choirs

Covid-19 Update

Having carefully considered the implications of the Covid-19 outbreak The Chichester Singers have cancelled all their activities with immediate effect and intend that performances will recommence in September 2020. We are disappointed about this suspension of activity but are looking forward to resuming singing and performing again in September.

However, you can see – and hear us – still singing together even though we’re apart #lockdown video.

The Chichester Singers have been an established part of musical life in Chichester for over 60 years

The choir performs under the musical direction of Jonathan Willcocks, one of the UK’s foremost choral conductors and composers. We have around 140 singing members and our repertoire includes a broad range of music from the great choral classics to contemporary works, performed with first-class professional soloists and orchestras.

The choir’s accompanist is Sue Graham Smith and we currently work with the professional chamber orchestra Southern Pro Musica with most of our concerts in Chichester Cathedral.

What's Next...

Vivaldi – Gloria

26 September 2020

Vivaldi: Gloria
Pehkonen: Russian Requiem
J S Bach: Suite No 1 in C

Learn more...

Elgar – The Dream of Gerontius

14 November 2020

Learn more...

You can see the rest of our upcoming concerts right here.

The Critics Say...

The Chichester Singers performed with a lightness and agility that belied the choir’s size. Florid passagework (for example in For unto us a child is born) was performed with impressive ease, giving the clarity of a chamber-sized choir. They sang with assurance and musicality throughout.

The final, steadily quietening section of the Requiem was most moving and, in the end, we wondered – was that a concert or was it a religious service – do we applaud? The audience did applaud, loud and long; it was a memorable concert; one of the Chichester Singers’ best performances.

A packed audience in Chichester Cathedral were treated to a performance of the oratorio, given by the Chichester Singers, conducted by Jonathan Willcocks. Just as the first performance in The New Music Hall, Dublin, in 1742 was an unqualified success, so was this!

The Chichester Singers as the chorus were on top form, moving smoothly from the softer passages to the more boisterous with ease. At the end, the standing ovation and two applause recalls from a full house was testament to the success of this exciting and well executed concert.

The chorus and orchestra, under the baton of Jonathan Willcocks performed with admirable power and control, and especially singing the spirituals of a persecuted people. Let my people go was overwhelming and the final climax of shadow and light leading into Deep River will linger long in the memory.

The Singers themselves were on top form from opening to closing choruses. The cathedral acoustic demands that the voices project well over the orchestra in front of them and this they did very well.