Longer History of
the Camden Choir
Founded in 1971, the Camden Choir, together with its Musical Director Julian Williamson, has gained a particular reputation for the performance of contemporary music and the lesser known works of classical composers it has become known as an adventurous choir, never afraid to tackle even the most difficult choral music. Sustaining an amateur choir amidst the fierce competition in the capital demands courage and determination, nevertheless the Camden Choir continues to seek out lesser-known works and to commission new music, despite the risk it entails. We have a policy of employing professional musicians and soloists and are proud of our record in providing a platform to many young performers. Many acclaimed artists, such as Gillian Fisher, Catherine Wyn-Rogers, Mark Tucker and Michael George, have also appeared with the choir. The London Bach Orchestra, the City of London Sinfonia and the London Mozart Players are among the orchestras that we have used regularly.
The Camden Choir was originally based around a group of singers who had worked with Julian Williamson as the Central London Choir and the West London Choir. At the time there were just 20 singers, but numbers soon grew and by 1973 the Choir was able to perform (with others) Mahler's second and third symphonies at St. Peter's, Eaton Square. In 1976, the Choir (then five years old) employed its first professional orchestra (the London Bach Orchestra) for a performance of Haydn's Nelson Mass and two distinguished conductors became our patrons: Sir Charles Mackerras and the late Sir Charles Groves. It was also in 1976 that we began a long and successful relationship with the Camden Festival. During that time numerous venues were used for concerts including St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill; All Hallows, Gospel Oak; St Pancras Church and finally Hampstead Parish Church.
In 1979, Ian Wallace became a patron, heralding the 1980s and a decade of growth, new venues and premières, beginning with the London première of Ernst Krenek's Deutsche Messe (1980). This was followed by the first London performance of Bliss’ Shield of Faith.
In contrast, the Choir was also involved in a performance of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius in the Royal Festival Hall and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in the Queen Elizabeth Hall in the same year illustrating, then as now, the range of works and different styles of singing that we undertake in any given year. In 1983, the choir made its first appearance at the Barbican Hall performing Puccini’s Messa di Gloria. This was followed with the beginning of our special relationship with David Fanshawe – our 1984 performance of his African Sanctus at the Barbican was a sell-out!In 1986, we commissioned and performed The Bright Heavens Sounding by lain Hamilton. Shortly afterwards we received one of the first Performing Right Society Awards for ‘Choral Excellence’. 1987 saw our first appearance at St. John’s, Smith Square, and in 1988 we visited France, performing in the cathedral in Chartres, La Madeleine and L’eglise de St. Jacques in Paris, and the Priory in Mayenne. The 1980s ended with David Fanshawe writing a carol, Sing Christians Sing, for the Camden Choir.
The 1990s began with a move — the Choir left the Camden Adult Education Society and became an entirely independent charity with a new rehearsal venue. The Choir’s 20th anniversary was marked with another new commission, Cantata for St Cecilia by John Gardner, which was performed in the Barbican Hall. This was followed by another highly successful tour to France. 1994 saw Dame Judi Dench, John Gardner, Gerry Isaaman, Richard Sumray and Ursula Vaughan Williams join as patrons.
The 1990s repertoire ranged from Carissimi’s Jeptha to Bliss’s Shield of Faith and from the Allegri Miserere to Vaughan Williams’ A Vision of Aeroplanes and A Sea Symphony. The last was given a critically acclaimed performance in the Barbican. In our 25th anniversary season, the Choir performed its latest commission, The Word by Elena Firsova, written for large orchestra and chorus, along with Brahms' Deutsche Requiem. This took place at the Barbican and continued our tradition of performing new music alongside rarities from the past.
We are also keen to help others through our efforts and over the years the Choir has performed a number of benefit concerts for charities such as Save the Children, SHAC and the NSPCC. 1999 saw us undertaking a benefit performance of Handel's Messiah in conjunction with our friends St Mary the Virgin, Primrose Hill, and the Southern Pro Arte. We have also raised money by carol-singing for CRISIS and the Mayor of Camden's Charity. We regard these activities as an integral part of our annual programme. We are currently performing in an annual Community Carol event in aid of the Friends of the Royal Free Hospital.
We entered the new Millennium with a performance of St Nicolas by Britten in St Pancras Parish Church with the Southern Pro Arte and New London Children’s Choir, raising money for the Mayor of Camden’s Charity, to great critical acclaim. More recent highlights have been performances of Michael Nyman’s Out of the Ruins and J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion, as well as Ethel Smyth's Mass in D, Ernest Bloch’s Avodesh Hakodeth (Sacred Service) and another performance of Vaughan Williams’ A Vision of Aeroplanes.
In the last few years, the Choir has enjoyed singing acclaimed performances of Mozart’s Requiem (in a new edition by Duncan Druce), Bach’s St John Passion and Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius (in conjunction with Ware Choral Society). Recent concerts included works as various as Domenico Scarlatti’s Stabat Mater, Purcell’s Man that is Born of a Woman, and Tchaikovsky's Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.
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