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The Rodolfus Choir is made up of singers aged from 16 to 25 who have been chosen from past and present members of the Eton Choral Courses for prospective choral scholars. Many members of the Choir are choral scholars, some are at music college, and most hope to make a career in music, but all are under 25. This means the choir is fresh and expressive, prized qualities in choral singing. Ralph Allwood has been the choir's musical director since its beginning.
Since its foundation by Ralph Allwood in 1984, the Choir have toured extensively in Europe, and have also appeared throughout the UK, at venues great and small, including St John's, Smith Square, at some of the country’s most glorious cathedrals, and at many English festivals, including the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester..
The Rodolfus Choir and Ralph Allwood are well-known for imaginative programming, and for presenting new music. The Choir is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong, and has featured on Classic FM, as well as appearing on BBC TV’s Songs of Praise and in the Channel 4 documentary “Alex: A Passion For Life”, which followed preparations for the choir’s performance of J.S. Bach's St Matthew Passion (BWV 244) at Cadogan Hall in April 2009.
The choir has performed in a number of European countries, and has appeared at many English festivals, including the Three Choirs Festival in Gloucester. Other performance highlights include: St John's, Smith Square: J.S. Bach's B minor Mass (BWV 232) with The Hanover Band; Classic FM: J.S. Bach's B minor Mass (BWV 232) with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment; BBC Proms; York Early Music Festival; Songs of Praise.
The Rodolfus Choir’s CD recordings include music as diverse as Herbert Howells, Monteverdi, Grier, Tallis and the German Romantics. The choir's recent recordings, including titles for Naxos and Signum Records, include: Monteverdi: Vespers of 1610; Gottwald: Choral Arrangements; Abendlied: 19th-century Romantic German Partsongs & Motets. Recordings soon to be released include these: J.S. Bach: B minor mass (BWV 232); H. Howells: Choral Music |
