Simon Halsey is one of the world’s leading conductors of choral repertoire, regularly conducting prestigious orchestras and choirs worldwide.
Simon Halsey is one of the world’s leading conductors of choral repertoire, regularly conducting prestigious orchestras and choirs worldwide. He is Chief Conductor of the Berlin Radio Choir frequently working alongside such conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Claudio Abbado and Marek Janowski. His work preparing the choir for recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra has earned him a Grammy award two years running. He has been Chorus Director of the CBSO Chorus for over 25 years, and works closely there with the orchestra’s Music Director Andris Nelsons. Halsey is in his fifth season as Principal Conductor, Choral Programme for The Sage Gateshead. He also holds the position of consultant editor for Faber Music in the UK. Halsey regularly conducts choral projects with some of the world’s greatest orchestras, including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Berlin Radio Symphony and Minnesota Orchestra.
Highlights of the 2009-10 season include conducting Brahms Requiem and Schubert Mass No.5 with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Halsey will also conduct the orchestra and choir in their final concert of the season in an outdoor concert broadcast live on television. The choir will also perform in the Berlin performances of Götterdæmmerung at the Salzburg Festival and undertake a tour to Turkey. In the UK the CBSO Chorus will perform Berlioz’s Requiem with Mariinsky Orchestra and Chorus under Valery Gergiev and will tour to Kuala Lumpur in July 2010. Halsey will also bring together 300 young singers from the country’s top youth choirs to perform Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms.
Recent highlights have included conducting the German premiere of James Macmillan’s St John Passion with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Choir. Halsey also conducted the premier of Christian Jost’s Angst in Berlin and prepared the choir for performances of Ligeti’s Lux aeterna with Metzmacher, Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri with Rattle and Mahler’s Lieder aus Des Knaben Wunderhorn with Abbado. During 2008-9 Halsey travelled with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to Cuenca, Spain to conduct a programme that included works by Szymanowski and Finzi. In the same season Halsey acted as chorus master for two performances of Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder with the Philharmonia and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Halsey has worked on countless major recording projects, many of which have won major awards including several Gramophone Awards and Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik. In 2009 Halsey received his second Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance for the recording of Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms having previously won a Grammy in 2008 for the choir’s recording of Brahms’ Requiem with Berliner Philarmoniker and Rattle.
In addition to the two Grammy winning recordings, Halsey has made three recordings conducting the Berlin Radio Choir: XL, a disc of choral music including works by Tallis, J.S Bach, Kodály and Harvey recorded on Harmonia Mundi; Christian Jost’s Angst and Simple Gifts, featuring works by Britten, Copland, Barber and Tippett, both on the Coviello label. With the CBSO Chorus Halsey has most recently recorded Julian Anderson’s Four American Choruses for NMC and English Choral Favourites for EMI.
Other landmark recordings include Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Sir Simon Rattle, Dame Janet Baker and John Shirley-Quirk; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on EMI, in a live recording with the CBSO Chorus, Vienna Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle and Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with CBSO Sir Simon Rattle Dame Janet Baker and Arleen Augér on EMI.
Simon Halsey is represented by Intermusica.
June 2009 / 571 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.
Berlin Radio Choir, Berlin Philharmonic / Bach Matthew Passion (staged by Peter Sellars)
“The most beautiful music event of the season…a jewel in the crown for Simon Halsey’s incredible Berlin Radio Choir.”
Berliner Zeitung, April 2010
“The star of these three and a half hours is Simon Halsey’s Berlin Radio Choir. The chorale ‘Befiehl Du Deine Wege’ has never been heard in a softer, more haunting pianissimo.”
Der Tagesspiegel, April 2010
“The real super hero of the performance is Simon Halsey.”
rbb Kultrurradio, April 2010
“The Berlin Radio Choir is in a class of its own.”
KlassikInfo.de, April 2010
“It is the Berlin Radio Choir that deserves the greatest respect – a choir of superlatives.”
Salzburg24.at, March 2010
Berlin Radio Choir, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/ Szymanowski Stabat Mater
“The CBSO´s recording, for which Halsey prepared the chorus, was an award winner back in the early 1990s. This was a performance to fully remind us what beautiful music this is, Halsey perfectly blending his Anglo-German forces in the cause of Polish expressiveness.”
Birmingham Post, April 2009
Berlin Radio Choir and Orchestra/ MacMillan St John’s Passion
“The Radio Choir and Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the energetic, adventurous and skilled Simon Halsey, gave the German premiere of James MacMillan’s gripping, two-hour-long St John’s Passion at the Berlin Konzerthaus, and what a vivid and memorable account it was!“
Berliner Morgenpost, March 2009
Komishe Oper Berlin / Angst
"It was the excellent Rundfunkchor Berlin, tackling the demanding vocal parts with outstanding musicianship under the leadership of Simon Halsey, who gave new life to the piece in this successfully staged performance.”
Neues Deutschland, January 2009
“The musical performance under Simon Halsey will have set the ultimate standard for future stagings, or even recordings, of the piece.”
Der Tagesspiegel, January 2009
Berlin Philharmonic / Stravinsky Symphony of Psalms (EMI Classics)
“Its Latin psalm settings rise from solemnity to ecstasy in music that brings the best from Rattle and choir (Berlin Radio Choir) and orchestra…”
Sunday Telegraph, July 2008
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra / Parry & Elgar
“Conductor and chorus emerged triumphant… This was a sensational performance, not least because Halsey contrived, as if instinctively, to get all the pacings right.”
The Independent, October 2007
“Simon Halsey conducted the outer parts of this Edwardian programme of English music. Parry’s coronation anthem I Was Glad was a suitably ceremonial opening, while Elgar’s the Music Makers… demanded inclusion too.”
The Guardian, October 2007
City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus / Elgar
"In all three works, a large share of the responsibility for driving home the ecstatic high points falls on the Chorus. Happily, the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus lived up to the enviable reputation it has won under the long-term guidance of Simon Halsey. Augmented by the BBC National Chorus of Wales and members of the City of Birmingham Choir, it rose magnificently to every challenge."
The Telegraph, June 2007
"The weekend's heroes, however, were the enlarged chorus, prepared by Simon Halsey: precision, passion, pure, clear delivery."
The Independent, June 2007
Berlin Philharmonic / Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem
"The Berlin Radio Chorus, trained by Rattle's old colleague in Birmingham, Simon Halsey, sing with restrained passion and beautifully support Rattle's conjecture that this piece is as much a private as a public statement."
Gramophone Choral Award 2007
"Thanks to the marvellous transparency of the playing Rattle encourages from his Berlin players, and the outstanding choral singing, this is a modern version to reckon with. Simon Halsey, Rattle's chorus director in Birmingham, appears, on this evidence, to have revitalised choral singing in the German capital. Rattle's Brahms really glows."
The Times, March 2007
Berlin Philharmonic / Ives, Shostakovich
"…the Radio Choir (trained by Simon Halsey) performed under Sakari Oramo with intensity and flexibility."
Neues Deutschland, January 2005
Minnesota Orchestra & Chorale / Handel Messiah
“...acclaimed choral conductor Simon Halsey led those four soloists, the orchestra and the Minnesota Chorale in an interpretation suffused with majesty and richly realized depth. Growing more emotionally engaging by the aria, the evening proved every bit as rewarding as you would expect a world-class collection of Handel practitioners to make it...the Minnesota Chorale responded marvelously to Halsey's charismatic direction.”
Pioneer Press, 9 December 2004
Music Director of CurlewRiver at BBC Proms
“…the piece unfolded with absorbing power, eight excellent instrumentalists casting aural light and shade on the austere plainchart that dominates the vocal writing.”
Evening Standard, 29 July 2004
“Musically it was a secret policeman’s ball, with strong vocal performances all round, but especially from Mark Wilde as the Madwoman and Rodney Clarke as the Ferryman, and the BCMG players captured that semi-improvised feel that Britten intended through his conductorless freedom of movement.”
The Daily Telegraph, 30 July 2004
“…it was also musically convincing; a moving and imaginative revelation of Britten’s most daring work of music theatre.”
The Guardian, 30 July 2004
“…one of the most powerful Proms experiences I’ve enjoyed. … [I was impressed] by BCMG’s beautifully detailed delivery of Britten’s transparent score, by the singing and acting of all concerned.”
The Independent on Sunday, 1 September 2004
“All five of the Birmingham Opera Company’s lead singers were excellent, notably the rising young tenor Mark Wilde in the central, cross-dressing role of the Madwoman. Halsey’s players excelled. Those listening on Radio 3 must have enjoyed a rare treat.”
The Observer, 1 September 2004
CBSC & LSC / Mahler Symphony 7
"The City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus, the London Symphony Chorus, the City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus and the Toronto Children's Chorus, near-impeccable in attack, intonation and blend, were magnificent."
Evening Standard, 7 June 2004
"The City of Birmingham and London Symphony Choruses sang with precision and apparently limitless reserves of physical and emotional stamina. And it was wonderful to see as well as hear the enthusiasm of the City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Chorus and Toronto Children's Chorus, at one point cupping their hands to their mouths to make themselves heard through the tidal roar of one of Mahler's biggest climaxes. To get well over a hundred teenagers and younger children to sing German and medieval Latin with such precision and gusto is no small achievement."
The Independent 9 June 2004
Berlin Radio Choir / 25th Anniversary Concert
“It was not simply concentrated volume, but a fine art of song, tender pianos and orchestral colour which made the concert, directed by Simon Halsey and Daniel Reuss a pinnacle of choral singing”
Der Tagesspiegel, 17 February 2004
Netherlands Radio Choir / Szymanowski’s Stabat Mater / Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
“It is incomprehensible why this work is not performed more often, as this Stabat Mater has an ethereal beauty. The real star role was reserved for the Netherlands Radio Choir, which related Szymanowski’s Slavonic drama with crystal clear, angelic singing.”
Parool, 12 January 2004
Berlin Radio Choir
“The Radio Choir under the direction of Simon Halsey, showed good form throughout – not just in this extremely complicated premiere: excellent intonation and almost perfect balance with alert attention to all the rhythmical difficulties.”
Leipziger Volkszeitung, 20 March 2003
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union / Handel Messiah
“The Edinburgh Royal Choral Union looked and sounded jubilant…in a performance as professional and slick as any you would wish to hear…under the tart and efficient direction of Simon Halsey. This was a performance which carefully avoided any sensationalism or attention-grabbing dependence on the big numbers. It was operatic in concept. Halsey gathered together the various chunks logically, moulding these into slick and meaningful extended theatrical scenes. The whole of Part II was full of energy and passion, not least in the final, uninterrupted leap into the famous Hallelujah chorus. The concluding Amen was a satisfying climax to one of the most tasteful performances of the work I have ever heard.”
The Scotsman, January 2001
European Voices & Simon Rattle / Salzburg Festival
“The performance possesses high vocal qualities, not least because of the choir European Voices, magnificently prepared by Simon Halsey, which also works hard on its dramatic role.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, May 1999
“The chorus of European Voices also plays a decisive role. Their flexibility and dramatic intelligence supersede by far the ability and willingness of an old-fashioned opera chorus.”
Der Standard, May 1999
CBSO Chorus & Simon Rattle / BBC Proms / Beethoven Symphony No.9
“Simon Halsey…had moulded receptive voices into a pliable, cohesive force of eloquence.”
The Daily Telegraph, August 1998