Ambrosian Singers

The Ambrosian Singers are one of the best-known London choral groups, particularly appreciated for their great variety of recorded repertory.

Ambrosian Singers
Origin	London, England
Genres	Renaissance Medieval Operatic
Years active	1951–present
Past members	Heather Harper Dorothy Dorow Janet Baker Sarah Walker Margaret Price Robert Tear Ian Partridge John Shirley-Quirk

History

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 consisted of 600–700 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 Ambrossian 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] Meriel Dickinson, 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

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

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

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

• Jerome Kern: Show Boat, conducted by John McGlinn; EMI Records, 1988
• Cole Porter: Anything Goes, conducted by John McGlinn; EMI Records, 1989
• Richard Rodgers: My Funny Valentine: Frederica von Stade sings Rodgers and Hart, conducted by John McGlinn; EMI Records, 1990

References

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. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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 December 9, 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.

External links

• Bach-Cantatas.com page on the Ambrosian Singers
• Joseph Stevenson, "Ambrosian Singers". Classical Artist Biographies. All Media Guide, 2008.