Philhar­monia
Chorus

The international performing Vienna Philharmonia Chorus was founded as an opera and concert chorus in 2002 at the initiative of Gerard Mortier, former director of the Salzburg Festival. In 2006 the renamed Vienna Philharmonia Chorus started performing as an independent choral society, working with renowned conductors including Claudio Abbado, Marc Minkowski, Kent Nagano, Thomas Hengelbrock, Zubin Mehta, Christian Thielemann, Christoph Eschenbach and Riccardo Muti and having guest performances in opera productions at the Bremen Music Festival, in Reggio Emilia and Ferrara, Baden-Baden, at the RuhrTriennale, the Lucerne Festival and several times at the Salzburg Whitsun Festival.

In 2008 the Chorus appeared at the Salzburg Festival’s guest performances of »Le Nozze di Figaro« in Japan. Since 2013 the Chorus is a regular guest of the Salzburg Festival and performed in Verdi’s »Falstaff« and »Giovanna d’Arco«, in »Don Giovanni« and »La Favorite« and 2016 in performances of »Faust« and »Don Giovanni« as well as in a concert version of »Thais« and the Armenian mass »Prayer Wheel« by Karen Asatrian.

The Vienna Philharmonia Chorus is also a regular guest of the Baden-Baden Easter and Whitsun Festival and performed f.i. in »Manon Lescaut« and »Tosca« under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle as well as in »Faust« and in »Mefistofele«.

Recent projects include concert performances of Wagner’s »Rienzi« in Madrid and of Bellini’s »La straniera« at Vienna’s Musikverein. As well as concert versions of Verdi’s »I due Foscari« at this year’s Salzburg Festival and Verdi’s »Rigoletto« at the Steinbruch St. Margareten.

The Vienna Philharmonia Chorus is also a sought-after concert chorus led by its founder, Walter Zeh.