Edinburgh Royal Choral Union goes to Brussels…
Edinburgh Royal Choral Union goes to Brussels…
Since its foundation in 1858, the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union, has established itself as one of Edinburgh’s most versatile and engaging choral societies, playing a significant part in the musical life of Scotland. It is looking forward to its 138th performance of the Messiah in the Usher Hall on 2nd January, a well- established part of Edinburgh’s Festive celebrations.
Before that, the choir is embarking on the first leg of a Choral collaboration with the Brussels Choral Society. On 7th December the ERCU will be in Brussels for a joint concert in the Palais des Beaux-Arts (BOZAR) with the Etesiane Orchestra and soloists under the baton of young Belgian conductor, Gabriel Hollander.
The concert is entitled ‘Et in Terra pax’ and includes two works: Poulenc’s exuberant post-war masterpiece ‘Gloria’ and Bruckner’s more sombre Mass in D minor– both reactions to the message of hope that the angels bring in the ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ – peace on earth. Each choir has a membership of around 120 so a glorious combined sound is promised, completed by acclaimed soloists, Romane Cabaret, soprano, Julie Bailly, mezzo-soprano, Mathys Lagier, tenor and Jean-Manuel Candenot, bass.
On Sunday 15th March 2026, the Brussels Choral Society will visit Edinburgh and perform the same programme in the Usher Hall with the ERCU, and the Scottish Opera Orchestra conducted by Michael Bawtree.
Brussels Choral Society (BCS), founded in 1979, is the largest amateur symphony choir in Belgium. Truly an international ensemble, the choir’s 120 members represent 25 different nationalities. With a wide variety of occupations - many are professionally associated with the European institutions and international organisations – they are bound together with a common passion for choral singing. As well as putting the final touches to the Poulenc and the Bruckner, BCS is currently auditioning for a new Musical Director. The late Tom Cunningham (from Edinburgh) was the second Musical Director of BCS, taking over from Derek Thomson, ably assisted by his wife Hilary, who founded the choir and was the first Music Director. Interestingly, Tom Cunningham’s first performance with the choir was Poulenc’s ‘Gloria’ in May 1984.
On their home ground, both choirs have evolved over the years in singing all periods of the choral repertory, including newly commissioned work, and performing with different conductors and visiting soloists. The ERCU is often engaged for other performances: it has provided choral backing for Andrea Bocelli in Glasgow, and Sir Karl Jenkins conducted the choir in a performance of his own works with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall during his 75th birthday celebration tour. The ERCU recorded ‘Messiah’ choruses with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra for the festive ‘Street of Light’ in Edinburgh and sang Holst’s ‘Planets’ in the Usher Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Other performances include Beethoven’s Choral Symphony with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra and concerts, both with the RSNO, to celebrate the centenary of the Usher Hall. The ERCU has travelled to join other choirs for concerts, for example, St Magnus Festival Chorus for the St Magnus International Festival in Orkney, Halifax Choral Society for a performance of Messiah, and Tallaght Choral Society for performances in both Dublin and Edinburgh
The Brussels Choral Society has given concerts all over Belgium, in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Some members recall a grand combined choir performance of ‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ at the Royal Albert Hall. They’ve collaborated with Philharmonischer Chor Köln in the Dvorak Requiem and ‘A Sea Symphony’ in Cologne and Brussels; with Ely Choral Society and Cambridge Philharmonic Society in Berlioz at Ely Cathedral; and welcomed Guildford Choral Society to sing Duruflé’s Requiem in Brussels. They’ve also sung three Christmas concerts with Barbara Hendricks and a bel canto programme with José van Dam. Recently, BCS performed newly composed masses by two of their Musical Directors – the late Tom Cunningham and Eric Delson.
Members of both choirs are looking forward to the two concerts and the opportunity to travel, experience a different concert-hall, orchestra, soloists and musical director, and importantly, to meet the singers from the other choir. I hope that participants from both choirs will be happy to tell the Edinburgh Music Review about their experience of the concerts.
Tickets for the Brussels concert on 7th December can be bought from the Brussels Choral Society website Concert calendar - Brussels Choral Society. Tickets for the Edinburgh concert on 15th March are on sale at the Usher hall website.
Many thanks to Moira Burke, President of the ERCU and Valerie Jacob, a member of the Brussels Choral Society for their help with this article. Moira has many years of experience in the St Giles’ Choir of which she’s still a member, and was, for a long time, a soprano in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus, taking part in several overseas trips with the chorus and orchestra. Valerie was head of Live Music Now in Brussels and has liaised over the years with Carol Main in a number of LMN musical exchanges sponsored by the Scottish and Belgian governments. She’s looking forward to renewing her acquaintance with Edinburgh when the BCS visits in March.
photograph of the Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
