United Kingdom Mendelssohn, Elijah: Elaine McDaid (soprano); Dawn Burns (alto); Conor Breen (tenor); Kevin Neville (bass); Belfast Philharmonic Choir; Ulster Orchestra / Stephen Doughty (conductor); David Stevens (0rgan), Ulster Hall, Belfast, 7.6.2019. (RB)
Belfast
CHORUS MASTER STEPHEN DOUGHTY IN CONVERSATION WITH ROBERT BEATTIE
Stephen Doughty Tells Robert Beattie About the Work of the Belfast Philharmonic Choir
The Belfast Philharmonic Choir is Northern Ireland’s only symphonic choir. I went to listen to them perform in St Anne’s Cathedral a few months ago and was impressed with the quality of the singing and the range of their repertoire. The repertoire of the choir is exceptionally varied and includes key works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Bruckner. The Phil also champion new works and in 2015 they performed the world premiere of James Whitbourn’s The Seven Heavens which was written especially to commemorate the choir’s 140th anniversary.
They will be performing Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Ulster Orchestra on 7 June. I spoke to their Chorus Master Stephen Doughty about preparations for the performance and about the work of the choir more generally.
A Superb Production of Sweeney Todd in Belfast
United Kingdom Sondheim, Sweeney Todd: Cast, Chorus and Band of Northern Ireland Opera and Lyric Theatre / Sinead Hayes (Conductor), Lyric Theatre, Belfast, 6.2.2019. (RB)
Excellent Collaboration Between Conductor, Organist and Belfast Philharmonic Choir
United Kingdom Taverner, Vierne, Handel, Miškinis, Preston, Lauridsen, Parry: David Stevens (Organ), Belfast Philharmonic Choir / Stephen Doughty (Conductor), St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, 17.11.2018. (RB)
Superb Production of Rigoletto from Northern Ireland Opera
United Kingdom Verdi, Rigoletto: Soloists and Chorus of Northern Ireland (NI) Opera, Ulster Orchestra / Gareth Hancock (conductor), Grand Opera House, Belfast, 30.10.2018. (RB)
Scottish Opera’s First-Rate Production of Tchaikovsky’s Great Eugene Onegin
United Kingdom Tchaikovsky, Eugene Onegin: Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra of Scottish National Opera / Stuart Stratford (Conductor), Grand Opera House, Belfast, 28.6.2018. (RB)
Highly Imaginative and Exuberant Così fan tutte from Northern Ireland Opera
United Kingdom Mozart, Così fan tutte: Cast and Chorus of Northern Ireland Opera, Ulster Orchestra / Nicholas Chalmers (Conductor), Grand Opera House, Belfast, 17.11.2017. (RB)
