Reviews can also be seen on our Concerts and News Page.

Mahler 8 - Royal Albert Hall

 "This was a Mahler Eighth and a half"   (Slipped Disc - Norman Lebrecht) - October 23, 2022  Click Here to read review

The choral singing (the combined forces of the Philharmonia and Bournemouth Symphony choruses, City of London and Tiffin Boys’ choirs and the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School) was massive and glorious, the soloists utterly secure.

(The Guardian - Andrew Clements) -  October 24, 2022  Click Here to read review

The choral singing (the combined forces of the Philharmonia and Bournemouth Symphony choruses, City of London and Tiffin Boys’ choirs and the Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School) was massive and glorious, the soloists utterly secure.

(The Times - Andrew Clements) - October 24, 2022  Click Here to read review

Pietà - Richard Blackford - Lighthouse Poole and Cadogan Hall London 2019

Click Here to read reviews.

A Child Of Our Time - Tippett - Lighthouse Poole

20th March 2019

Read "The Fine Times Recorder" Review of our Concert.

Read "Classical Source" Review of our Concert
The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus fearlessly strode through the uncompromising sinewy counterpoint ... with ... warmth and firmness of tone ...
Reviews

Dream of Gerontius 15th May 2019 - Lighthouse Poole

Read the Bournemouth Daily Echo Review

Best Classical Music of 2018:

Our Mahler 2 concert was listed as 9th Best of the Year!

“What perished must rise again”, in the words of Mahler’s Symphony No 2, Resurrection (1895), which launched Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s new season. Ligeti’s Lontano (1967), tiny repetitions creating sonic mist, was a smart prelude to the apocalyptic visions of Mahler. Celebrating his 10th anniversary as chief conductor, Kirill Karabits steered his colossal forces – choir, soloists (Nadine Weissmann and Lise Lindstrom) and musicians must have numbered 250 – with tight precision and vital sense of scale. At the redemptive finale, chorus, offstage bands, massed horns, trumpets, trombones, double timpani, harps, gongs, bells and all made the floor itself vibrate. Broadcast live on Radio 3.

Concert Review: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

Wednesday 3rd October 2018

Mahler’s Second Symphony opens the BSO Season: '...thundered in right from that thrusting opening phrase'....  read Geoff Brown's stunning review in The Times: 'none in the Bournemouth Symphony Chorus held back'

On 3rd and 4th May 2018, the BSC joined the Bruckner Orchestra of Linz under their conductor Markus Poschner for two performances of Mahler’s great Resurrection Symphony.  The first took place before a packed house at the Cadogan Hall off London’s Sloane Square. The Chorus, with soloists Brigitte Geller and Theresa Kronthaler, and a huge orchestra including 10 horns, were greeted with a standing ovation and prolonged cheers at the end of the 90 minute work. The second performance was at the Hexagon in Reading, where an equally enthusiastic audience greeted the performance with another standing ovation.

Handel: The Messiah

"A full house was engulfed and overwhelmed by the most stunning of performances.."

"..two and a half hours of a glorious and joyous tour de force"

"An unforgettable evening.."

Read the tribute from Andy Martin in the Bournemouth Echo

Rachmaninov: The Bells

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

"..formidable urgency and attack"

"..absolutely glorious"

"..a magnificent performance"

​Click here for the full story

Benevolent Fund Concert in the Lighthouse

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

"an afternoon of poignancy and emotion"

"bright, sophisticated, exotic and distinctive"

"a perfect showcase for both orchestra and wonderfully talented chorus"

​Click here for the full story

St Matthew Passion

Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Children's Choir & Youth Chorus, Bournemouth Chamber Orchestra, Conductor Gavin Carr

"Frankly, it was easy to forget [The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus is] an amateur choir, their dynamic range, precision and enunciation were all first class, and they seemed to be enjoying themselves thoroughly as well. "

​Will Frampton/Bournemouth Echo

(Please note that the orchestra, the Bournemouth Chamber Orchestra is wrongly referred to as the "BSO" and the "Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra"  by the Echo's reviewer)

​Click Here to read the report

​14/04/2017

A Glorious Sea Symphony from Bournemouth

09/02/2017

United Kingdom Beethoven, Bridge, Vaughan Williams: Ailish Tynan (soprano), Benedict Nelson (baritone), Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra / David Hill (conductor), Lighthouse, Poole 8.2.2017. (IL)

Beethoven – Calm Sea & Prosperous Voyage

Bridge – The Sea

Vaughan Williams – A Sea Symphony

Michael Kennedy, Vaughan Williams’ biographer, once said that A Sea Symphony was his favourite amongst RVW’s nine symphonies. Mine too; I could never tire of it. I was therefore eagerly anticipating this BSO performance. I was not disappointed. This epic work contrasts the real with the mystical. The opening movement is an exciting, salty salutation to all brave sailors, the second a nocturne as the baritone reflects on being on the beach alone at night, the third an exhilarating scherzo as sailors enjoy the winds and waves. But it is the large-scale mystical finale that for me makes or breaks a performance as Walt Whitman’s verses survey, with awe and wonder, the beauty and .... click here to read more

Beethoven Mass in C  Poole Lighthouse (2nd November 2016)

"Their singing was precise and thrilling in its control of expression and dynamics"  Click HERE 

Brahms Requiem Poole Lighthouse (10th March 2016)

"We almost take the excellence of the BSO for granted: it was great to be reminded of the excellence of the Chorus as well." Click HERE

"Bournemouth Symphony Chorus serve Brahms admirably well, but never more powerfully than in the exhilarating fourth movement, which is a joy to behold" Click HERE

BSO/BSC Carol Concert at Poole Lighthouse (23rd Dec 2015)

"Amongst these gems were more popular works such as Star Carol by John Rutter, during which the Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus shone".  Click HERE

Mahler 8 Poole Lighthouse Amadeus Orchestra/BSC/Minerva/Gavin Carr conductor

​"The combined might of some of the South West's finest choirs – Bournemouth Symphony Chorus, Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus and Bath Minerva Choir – joined forces with the highly talented Amadeus Orchestra to bring true justice to Mahler's masterpiece.​" Click HERE

Verdi Requiem Poole Lighthouse BSO/BSC/Kirill Karabits (6th May 2015) Daily Echo

"Led by Chorus Master Gavin Carr since 2009, the BS Chorus of around 150 singers were incredible to hear."  Click HERE

Royal Albert Hall Classic FM Gala Concert (15th April 2015) Bournemouth Echo)

"On a gloriously hot and sunny day... ...the BSO once again excelling themselves... ...given a vigorous account by the BSO and Chorus in which the full force of the Royal Albert Hall organ was not only heard, but felt." Click HERE

Finzi "Imitations of Immortality" Poole Lighthouse (18th March 2015) Bachtrack

"The BSO and Chorus were on top form in the third stanza which was a delightful romp" Click HERE