| Biography | John Alldis was an English chorus-master and conductor.
In 1966, the London Symphony Orchestra engaged Alldis to form and direct its first standing choral group. However, he switched to the London Philharmonic Choir in 1969, with which he remained until 1982. In 1962, Alldis founded the professional, 16-member John Alldis Choir, which launched itself with the world premiere of Alexander Goehr's A Little Cantata of Proverbs. Contemporary music figured importantly in its repertory, with first performances of works by Malcolm Williamson, Richard Rodney Bennett and Harrison Birtwistle, many of which were captured on the Argo label. In 1967, he prepared the John Alldis Choir for the first European performance of Stravinsky's Requiem Canticles, conducted by Pierre Boulez.
In 1970, Alldis directed his choir in the recording and the first performance of Pink Floyd's prog rock suite "Atom Heart Mother". In 1973, he directed the choir in the Westminster Abbey performance of Duke Ellingtons Third Sacred Concerta recording that was to be the penultimate one made by the great bandleader. He also conducted the London Philharmonic Choir and brass section in the recording of David Bedfords Star Clusters. |