The Ambrosian Singers are an English choral group based in London.
History They were founded after World War II in England. One of their co-founders was Denis Stevens (1922–2004), 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. The other was John McCarthy (1919–2009), a professional tenor soloist. McCarthy continued to conduct them until the late 1980s. During the 1960s the choir called on the services of between 600 and 700 singers.
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 Ambrosian Chorus", the "Ambrosian Choir" or "London Symphony Orchestra Chorus". 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.
The Ambrosian singers have been the training ground for a large number of professional artists. Famous members have included Heather Harper, Dorothy Dorow, Janet Baker, Sarah Walker, Margaret Price, Robert Tear, Ian Partridge and John Shirley-Quirk.
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. "DEEP RIVER - NORMAN LUBOFF CHOIR; STOKOWSKI CONDUCTS" AM Torrent, retrieved 9 December 2019
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". 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. As a consequence, the Ambrosian Singers sang both the "white" and the "black" parts of the musical. The recording was arranged by EMI who "didn't care they were white". The recording went on to be a critical and commercial success, leading to other opera singers' being invited to perform pieces from Broadway musicals.
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.Also known as London Symphony Orchestra Chorus.
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", nimble, and "like an obedient battalion".
Selected operatic discography
YearComposer,OperaCastConductor,Opera House and OrchestraLabel1964Bellini: Beatrice di TendaJoan Sutherland, Cornelius Opthof, Luciano Pavarotti, et al.Richard Bonynge, London Symphony Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: DeccaCat:1966Rossini: SemiramideJoan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, Joseph Rouleau, et al.Richard Bonynge, London Symphony Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: DeccaCat:1966Gounod: FaustJoan Sutherland, Franco Corelli, Nicolai Ghiaurov, et al.Richard Bonynge, London Symphony Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: DeccaCat:1969 Verdi: La forza del destinoMartina Arroyo,Carlo Bergonzi,Piero Cappuccilli, et al.Lamberto Gardelli,Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: EMICat:Donizetti: Roberto DevereuxBeverly Sills, Róbert Ilosfalvy, Peter Glossop, Beverly WolffCharles Mackerras Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: Westminster Cat:Verdi: Il trovatorePlácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Leontyne Price, et al.Zubin MehtaNew Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian ChorusAudio CD: RCACat: 6194-2Cat: 861941970Verdi: Don CarlosPlácido Domingo, Montserrat Caballé, Sherill Milnes, et al.Carlo Maria GiuliniOrchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Ambrosian ChorusAudio CD: Angel RecordsCat: 47701Donizetti: L'elisir d'amoreJoan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Spiro Malas, et al.Richard BonyngeEnglish Chamber Orchestra Ambrosian ChorusAudio CD: Angel RecordsCat: 47701Donizetti: Lucia di LammermoorBeverly Sills, Carlo Bergonzi, Piero Cappuccilli, Justino DiazThomas Schippers London Symphony Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: Westminster Cat:Massenet: ManonBeverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda, Gérard Souzay, Gabriel BacquierJulius Rudel New Philharmonia Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: EMI Cat: Deutsche Grammophon Cat:1971Verdi: I Lombardi alla prima crociataPlácido Domingo, Cristina Deutekom,Ruggero Raimondi, et al.Lamberto GardelliRoyal Philharmonic OrchestraAmbrosian SingersAudio CD: PhilipsCat: 422 420–2Puccini: Manon LescautMontserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Vincente Sardinero, et al.Bruno Bartoletti (Studio)New Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: EMI ClassicCat: 7 47736-8Verdi: RigolettoLuciano Pavarotti,Sherrill Milnes,Joan Sutherland, et al.Richard Bonynge,London Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: Decca Cat: 414–269–2Rossini: Il Barbiere di SivigliaHermann Prey, Teresa Berganza, Luigi Alva, Enzo Dara, Paolo MontarsoloClaudio Abbado London Symphony Orchestra Ambrosian SingersAudio CD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat:1972 Bellini: Norma Plácido Domingo, Montserrat Caballé,Fiorenza Cossotto, et al.Carlo Felice CillarioLondon Philharmonic OrchestraAmbrosian SingersAudio CD: RCACat: 6502-2Cat: 8650Verdi: AtilaRuggero Raimondi,Carlo Bergonzi,Christina Deutekom, et al.Lamberto Gardelli,Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,Ambrosian Singers Audio CD: PhilipsCat: 412–875–2Verdi: Giovanna d'ArcoMontserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, et al.James LevineLondon Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: EMI ClassicsCat: 63226-2Angel RecordsCat: 632261973Boito: MefistofelePlácido Domingo, Norman Treigle,Montserrat Caballé, et al. Julius Rudel (Studio)London Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian SingersAudio CD: AngelCat: 49522EMICat: 49522-2Bellini: I PuritaniBeverly Sills, Nicolai Gedda, Louis Quilico, Paul PlishkaJulius Rudel London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: Westminster The Legacy Cat: 471 207–21975Massenet: La NavarraisePlácido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes, Marilyn Horne, et al.Henry LewisLondon Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: RCA VictorCat: 50167 1976Montemezzi: L'amore dei tre rePlácido Domingo, Pablo Elvira, Elizabeth Bainbridge, et al.Nello Santi,London Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: RCACat: 50166Charpentier: LouiseIleana Cotrubas,Plácido Domingo,Gabriel Bacquier, et al.Georges PrêtreNew Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian SingersAudio CD: Sony ClassicalCat: 46429Puccini: Il Trittico(Il tabarro / Gianni Schicchi)Plácido Domingo,Renata Scotto,Ileana Cotrubas, et al.Lorin MaazelLondon Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: CBSCat: 35912Cat: 79312Puccini: Tosca Plácido Domingo,Raina Kabaivanska,Sherrill Milnes, et al.Bruno Bartoletti (Film)New Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian SingersDVD: Deutsche Grammophon Cat: 00440 073 40381977Cilea: Adriana LecouvreurPlácido Domingo, Renata Scotto, Sherrill Milnes, et al.James Levine (Studio)Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian SingersAudio CD: Sony ClassicalCat: 34588CBSCat: 79310Thomas: MignonMarilyn Horne, Frederica von Stade, Alain Vanzo, Ruth Welting, Nicola Zaccaria, et al.Antonio de AlmeidaPhilharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: Sony ClassicalCat: SM3K 34590For details, see Mignon (Antonio de Almeida recording)Verdi: OtelloPlácido Domingo, Renata Scotto, Sherrill Milnes, et al.James LevineNational Philharmonic OrchestraAmbrosian singersAudio CD: RCACat: 2951Cat: 82951-2Bizet: CarmenTeresa Berganza, Plácido Domingo,Ileana Cotrubas, et al.Claudio AbbadoLondon Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian SingersAudio CD: Deutsche GrammophonCat: 427 885–21978Mascagni: Cavalleria RusticanaPlácido Domingo,Pablo Elvira,Renata Scotto, et al.James Levine (Studio)National Philharmonic OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: RCACat: 83091BMG ClassicsCat: 74321 39500 2Brilliant ClassicsCat: 6251Puccini: Madama ButterflyPlácido Domingo, Renata Scotto, Ingvar Wixell, et al.Lorin Maazel (Studio)London Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: CBSCat: 35181SonyCat: 91135
Puccini: [Madama Butterfly] /Mirella Freni, Jose Carreras, Teresa Bergnza, etc. /Ambrosian Opera Chorus/Philharmonia Orchestra/Giuseppe Sinopoli /1988 Polydor International Gmbh, HamburgVerdi: NabuccoMatteo Manuguerra,Veriano LuchettiNicolai GhiaurovRenata Scotto,Elena ObraztsovaRiccardo Muti Philharmonia Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: CBS,Cat: 4564472EMIThe Opera SeriesDonizetti: Don PasqualeBeverly Sills, Donald Gramm, Alfredo Kraus, Alan TitusSarah Caldwell London Symphony Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: EMI Cat:1978Massenet: CendrillonFrederica von Stade, Nicolai Gedda, Ruth Welting, Jane Berbié, Jules BastinJulius Rudel Philharmonia Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: Sony ClassicalCat: M2K 79323For details, see Cendrillon (Julius Rudel recording)1979Puccini: Le VilliPlácido Domingo,Renata Scotto,Leo Nucci, et al.Lorin MaazelNational Philharmonic OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: CBSCat: 36669Cat: 768901979Rossini: William TellSherrill Milnes,Luciano Pavarotti,Mirella Freni, et al.Riccardo ChaillyNational Philharmonic OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: DeccaCat: 47577231980 Puccini: ToscaPlácido Domingo, Renato Bruson, Renato Capecchi, et al. James Levine (Studio)Philharmonia Orchestra Ambrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD: AngelCat: 49364EMICat: 49364-21982Puccini: La rondinePlácido Domingo,Kiri Te Kanawa, Leo Nucci, et al.Lorin MaazelLondon Symphony OrchestraAmbrosian ChorusAudio CD: CBSCat: M2K-378521985Verdi: La forza del destinoRosalind Plowright,José Carreras,Renato Bruson, et al.Giuseppe Sinopoli,Philharmonia OrchestraAmbrosian Opera ChorusAudio CD:Deutsche GrammophonCat:
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