The „Philharmonia Chorus Vienna“ (Philharmonia Chor Wien) was founded on invitation of Gerard Mortier as a professional chorus in 2002, called - depending on the producer - either „Chor der RuhrTriennale“ respectively „Festspielchor Baden-Baden“. Since 2006 the name of the chorus is PHILHARMONIA CHOR WIEN (PHILHARMONIA CHORUS VIENNA), it is a registered association.
The choir has worked with international conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Marc Minkowski, Kent Nagano, Thomas Hengelbrock, Christian Thielemann and others, in opera productions at Musikfest Bremen („L´Arlesienne“), in Reggio Emilia und Ferrara („Die Zauberflöte“), in Baden-Baden („Parsifal“, Zauberflöte“, „Tannhäuser“) as well as RuhrTriennale („Don Giovanni“, „Die Zauberflöte“). In April 2008 the choir went on tour to Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo for the Salzburg Festival with „Le nozze di Figaro“.
In January 2009 the choir was engaged for „Rosenkavalier“ under the direction of Christian Thielemann at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden with performances in concerts also in Paris and Munich.
At Whitsun 2009 the Philharmonia Chorus Vienna performed at the Festival in Baden-Baden at Robert Wilson’s new staging of the „Freischütz“ under direction of Thomas Hengelbrock. This performance was repeated as a concert at the Luzern Festival in August 2009.
In January 2010 the choir has worked with Christian Thielemann at Festspielhaus Baden-Baden for „Elektra“.
At the Salzburg Festival Whitsun 2010 Mozart’s „Betulia liberata“ in a staged performance and Jommellis „Betulia liberata“ as a concert were performed under direction of Riccardo Muti. Both representations were repeated at the Ravenna Festival in the beginning of July 2010.
The „Philharmonia Chorus Vienna“ is also popular for concerts. At New Year‘s Eve and New Years’s Day the choir sang Bernstein’s „Chichester Psalms“ and parts of Gershwin’s „Porgy and Bess“ under Stephen Sloane in Bochum with the Bochum Symphonic Orchestra in 2006/2007.
In September/October 2007 the Philharmonia Chorus Vienna showed versatility with his participation in Wilhelm Genazino’s piece „Courasche oder Gott lass nach“ in the Duisburger Gebläsehalle, as well as at Falk Richter’s „Unter Eis“ in the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum at the RuhrTriennale.
Chorus director and founder of the chorus is Prof. Walter Zeh. He had been a member of the Vienna State Opera Chorus and has worked for years as a free lance chorus conductor and language coach.