On May 21st, the London Symphony Chorus celebrated its 40th anniversary in some style with a concert which will be followed by recordings, commissions and a party.

The London Symphony Chorus made its debut on Saturday 21 May 1966 when it recorded Mahler’s Symphony No 2 for Decca at the Kingsway Hall with Sir Georg Solti and the LSO.

On its 40th birthday the Chorus took part in a concert performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio to be recorded for LSO Live, conducted by its President Sir Colin Davis. The 40th anniversary was also marked by a concert of Ralph Vaughan Williams’ A Sea Symphony with the LSO on 4th June, conducted by the Chorus’ Conductor Emeritus and former Music Director Richard Hickox. The LSC Endowment Fund contributed to the cost of recording this concert; live for Chandos.

2006 is a landmark year for the London Symphony Chorus as it tours to the USA, Italy, France and Germany, as well as performing in London and other UK cities with Sir Colin Davis, Sir Bernard Haitink, Mark Elder, Valery Gergiev, Richard Hickox, James Judd, Neema Jarvi, Tadaaki Otaka, Daniel Gatti, Vasily Petrenko and Jean-Claude Casadesus.

In a sparkling new live recording of William Walton’s 1st Symphony, Sir Colin Davis is at his Sibelian best, conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.

The British composer, famous for his Imperial themes and wartime music, first performed his symphony in 1935. With the undoubted influence of Sibelius, it is right up Sir Colin’s street.

In a review, David Mellor gives it five stars. He writes: “The first movement is one of the most exhilarating in any 20th-century symphony, and all its power and propulsive energy is unleashed in Sir Colin’s performance. The LSO cover themselves in glory with crisp rhythms and virtuostic playing from every department.”

One for the collection if you’re a Walton, Sibelius, or LSO fan.

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