Chandos chamber choir

History & Biography
Founded in 1985, the Chandos Chamber Choir, formerly the Handel Opera Chorus, is an amateur choir of approximately 30 voices performing concerts both in and out of London. The original “chorus” was an integral part of the Handel Opera Society, founded in 1955. The choir takes its name from the Chandos Anthems of Handel, in turn taking their name from the Duke of Chandos, Handel's patron from 1718-1719. The choir has sung a number of choral evensongs at St Lawrence Whitchurch, Stanmore, the church in which Handel was organist for the Duke of Chandos. The choir often makes an annual weekend visit to perform services and concerts at one of a number of British Cathedrals. Past visits have taken place at Salisbury Cathedral, Ely Cathedral & Lincoln Cathedral.
It has also been fortunate to benefit considerably from financial assistance from a variety of sources over the years, most notably that from John Lewis Partnership who have provided support since the early '90s.
Repertoire
The choir's repertoire is wide ranging, covering both sacred and secular music from the sixteenth century to the present day. The choir is equally comfortable performing a cappella works, and those accompanied by keyboard, chamber-ensemble or orchestra.
Recent performances by Chandos Chamber Choir include:
Allegri - Miserere mei; Byrd - Laudibus in sanctis, Mass à 4; Gibbons - Verse Anthems & Services; Palestrina - Missa Brevis; Tomkins - Verse Anthems & Services; Weelkes - Verse Anthems & Services; Lotti - Crucifixus à 8; Buxtehude - Membra Jesu Nostri; J.S.Bach - Cantatas: ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ BWV 191, ‘Christ lag in Todesbanden’ BWV 4, Motet: ‘Jesu, meine Freude’ BWV 227; Handel - Dixit Dominus, Messiah; Purcell - Rejoice in the Lord alway, O Sing unto the Lord, My Beloved Spake, Funeral Music for Queen Mary; Haydn - Missa ‘Sancti Nicolai’; Bruckner - Ave Maria, Christus factus est, Ecce Sacerdos, Locus Iste, Os Justi, Virga Jesse; Bairstow - The Lamentation; Britten - A Ceremony of Carols, Rejoice in the Lamb; Finzi - Lo, the full final sacrifice; Howells - Sing Lullaby, Here is the little door, A Spotless Rose, Te Deum & Jubilate (Collegium Regale); Kodaly - Missa Brevis; Vaughan Williams - Fantasia on Christmas Carols; Leighton - Crucifixus pro nobis; Duruflé - Requiem, Quatre Motets; Fauré - Cantique de Jean Racine; Langlais - Messe Solennelle; Poulenc - Quatre motets pour le temps de Noël; Brahms - Ein Deutsches Requiem, Ach, arme Welt, Geistliches Lied; Hassler - Missa Octo Vocum; Rheinberger - Abendlied; Reger - Unser lieben Frauen Traum; Mendelssohn - Richte mich, Gott, Verleih uns Frieden; Schubert - Gott ist mein Hirt; Schutz - Selig sind die Toten
Location
Chandos Chamber Choir rehearses weekly in the church of St Bartholomew-the-Less in West Smithfield, one of London's historic medieval churches and the official church of St Bartholomew's Hospital. The bell frame is believed to be the oldest in the City of London, with two of its three bells dating from 1380 and 1420.
Conductor & Accompanist
The choir is directed by Andrew Arthur, who is Director of Music and Fellow-Commoner at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and Associate Director of The Hanover Band, amongst other artistic roles. The choir's accompanist, Gavin Roberts, is Assistant Director of Music at St Marylebone Parish Church.

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