About the Choir
The London Philharmonic Choir was founded in 1947 as the chorus for the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Working under conductors such as Boulez, Elder, Gardner, Gatti, Haitink, Jurowski, Masur, Nézet-Séguin, Norrington, Rattle, Solti, Tennstedt and Welser-Möst, the Choir has always met with critical acclaim. Now widely regarded as one of the nation’s finest choirs, we perform regularly with the LPO and other world-class orchestras at major venues and festivals throughout the year.
From time to time we travel abroad. Past tours have been to Le Touquet, Budapest, Paris, Lucerne, Rome, Athens, Spain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, the Canary Islands, and further afield to Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Perth. In January 2004 we were invited to sing in the Vatican’s Papal Concert of Reconciliation. We have also built up an impressive discography throughout our history and continue to participate in recordings for CD, radio and television.
Our standards are high, but it’s not all hard work – we’re a very friendly and relaxed choir, enjoying not only the singing but a bit of socialising too. You’ll find out more about what we do – including information about joining us – on the following pages.
"The orchestral playing was wonderfully vibrant, and the choral singing outstandingly secure and controlled throughout, the polyphony crystal clear over a wide dynamic range."
Concerts in 2025 and 2026 include
John Adams Harmonium Edward Gardner
John Adams On the Transmigration of Souls Vladimir Jurowski
Beethoven Symphony No. 9 Tan Dun
Lili Boulanger Vieille prière bouddhique Ryan Bancroft
Christmas Classics Michael England
Delius A Mass of Life Sir Mark Elder
Handel Messiah Neville Creed
Handel Messiah Toby Purser
Haydn Missa in tempore belli Vladimir Jurowski
Holst The Planets Lee Reynolds
London Soundtrack Festival Gala Concert Ben Palmer
Mahler Symphony No. 8 Edward Gardner
Mozart Requiem Neville Creed
Szymanowski Stabat Mater Ryan Bancroft
Szymanowski Stabat Mater Edward Gardner
Tan Dun Choral Concerto: Nine Tan Dun
The Fellowship of the Ring in Concert Ludwig Wicki
The Two Towers in Concert Ludwig Wicki
The Return of the King in Concert Ludwig Wicki
Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony Sir Mark Elder
Zou Ye Symphony Kūkai Takuo Yuasa
Next concert
The Festival Generations
Saturday 11 July 2026
7.30 pm, St John’s Waterloo, 73 Waterloo Road, SE1 8TY
Waterloo Festival 2026
Madeleine Venner conductor
Jonathan Beatty piano
Iain Farrington piano
London Philharmonic Choir
George Dyson In Honour of the City
John Ireland The Forgotten Rite*
Gerald Finzi I praise the tender flower; Nightingales; My spirit sang all day (from Seven Poems of Robert Bridges)
Benjamin Britten Time; Concord (from Choral Dances from Gloriana)
Imogen Holst A Hymne to Christ
Lennox Berkeley Second and Third Movements from the Sonatina in E flat, Op. 39*
William Walton Selection from Façade Suites 1 and 2, arr. Lambert*
Ralph Vaughan Williams Valiant-for-Truth; Lord, Thou hast been our refuge