About us
Founded in the City in 1945 the London Orpheus
Choir has some sixty members and is acknowledged to be one of London's foremost
choirs. The choir consists not only of individuals from all walks of life in
this country but also a number of international young people,
who find themselves working and living in London.
In the early years performances were given mainly in churches and cathedrals.
With the opening of the Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1967, the Orpheus had the distinction
of being the first amateur choir to perform in the new Hall. Since then, the
choir has performed regularly at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and more recently
at St. John's, Smith Square, St James' church, Piccadilly and Cadogan Hall, Sloane Terrace.
Many notable performances have been given by the choir including the first
performance in London of the Bliss Mary of Magdala, at the request of the
composer, and a magnificent performance of the Monteverdi Vespers in
Westminster Abbey.
James Gaddarn has conducted the London Orpheus Choir since 1952. The choir performs
a wide repertoire which extends from the 16th century to present day with professional
soloists and the London Orpheus Orchestra; many of its players
are also members of leading orchestras and chamber music ensembles.
James Gaddarn
Early in his career James Gaddarn was asked by the BBC to assist the Director of the BBC Singers and subsequently worked with Sir Malcolm Sargent who invited him to become
Chorus Master of the Royal Choral Society. He became Conductor of the London
Orpheus Choir in 1952 and later founded the London Orpheus Orchestra; he is also
Conductor of the Ealing Choral Society and, until May 1999, the Croydon
Philharmonic Choir.
His long career embraces a wide spectrum of music from the pre-Baroque to the
present day - the first performance of Dame Elizabeth Maconchy's Héloise and Abelard
and the Stabat Mater of Antonin Tucapsky; the first London performance of Bliss'
Mary of Magdala at the request of the composer; the first performance in
England of the Donizetti Requiem Mass and the first public
performance in England of the same composer's Messa di Gloria e Credo;
performances in France and Germany and conducting many of the major British
orchestras, including the Philharmonia, the London Philharmonic, the Royal
Philharmonic, the English Chamber and the English Symphony.