What the critics say

[Szymanowski Stabat Mater] The London Symphony Chorus, under director Simon Halsey, gave a versatile and nuanced performance . . . [Brahms Requiem] the London Symphony Chorus surpassed itself . . . it was the chorus which merited the final thunderous applause.

[Brahms Requiem] The London Symphony Chorus was wonderfully incisive and articulate in the large-scale movements, especially the second, "All Flesh is Grass", and warmly expressive in the more intimate ones such as the final "Blessed Are the Dead".

A testing challenge, furthermore, for the London Symphony Chorus that, already sounding newly motivated under the direction of Simon Halsey, was met head-on with singing of notable lustre and conviction.

The London Symphony Chorus has always been a good one, but since Simon Halsey, one of Europe's finest choral trainers, took over last year it has undergone a spectacular transformation. Singing out unencumbered by scores, with crackling consonants and commitment to match, the choir brought a disciplined exhiliration to the party that Sado [the conductor] was able to mould into a satisfying account.

the excellent London Symphony Chorus