ROBINSON, CHRISTOPHER

"This disc is a must-have for connoisseurs of English cathedral music and a great introduction to Howells for the novice." - American Record Guide, Howells: Choral Works [ 8.554659].

Christopher Robinson was educated at Rugby and Christ Church, Oxford, where he was Organ Scholar. After a period as Organist and Master of the Choristers at Worcester Cathedral, where he was also conductor of several Three Choirs Festivals, Christopher Robinson moved to St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, where he was Organist and Choirmaster until 1991. He was conductor of the Oxford Bach Choir from 1976 to 1997 and of the City of Birmingham Choir from 1964 to 2002.

As well as conducting most of the large-choir repertoire with the City of Birmingham Choir, there were also concerts of special note. For example, Christopher Robinson's expertise in and affinity for Elgar's music produced several highly praised performances of The Dream of Gerontius. In 1981 he conducted Messiaen's La Transfiguration de Notre Seigneur Jesus Christ and in 1989 two highly acclaimed performances of Tippett's Mask of Time. The Choir gave a widely praised first performance in England of the Jacobite Rising by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

He recently retired from the prestigious post of Organist and Director of Music at St John’s College, Cambridge, a choir with an international reputation for excellence. He holds honorary degrees from Birmingham University and the University of Central England and is an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Music. He has been Chairman of the Elgar Society and President of the Royal College of Organists.

In 1992 the Queen bestowed on him the honour of Commander of the Victorian Order for his services at Windsor Castle, and in the summer of 2002, the Archbishop of Canterbury made him a Lambeth DMus. He became an Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians in Autumn 2003 and received a CBE in the 2004 New Year’s Honours List.

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
ADAGIO CHILLOUT	8.556783
AVE MARIA - Les plus beaux Ave Maria et chants a la Vierge (The Most Beautiful Ave Marias and Songs to the Virgin)	8.570886-87
AVE MARIA: Madonna Mystica - BACH, J.S. / HANDEL, G.F. / SCHUBERT, F. / BRUCKNER, A. / BRAHMS, J. / LISZT, F.	8.551267
BEST OF BRITISH	8.570573-74
BRIDE'S GUIDE TO WEDDING MUSIC (A)	8.557246-47
BRITTEN (THE BEST OF)	8.556838
BRITTEN: Rejoice in the Lamb / Hymn to St. Cecilia / Missa Brevis, Op. 63	8.554791
CHRISTMAS (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.570344-45
CLASSICAL MEDITATION	8.570364-65
DISCOVER CHORAL MUSIC	8.558198-99
Discover Music of the Twentieth Century	8.558168-69
EASTER ALBUM (AN)	8.570175-76
ELGAR (THE VERY BEST OF)	8.552133-34
ELGAR: Ave Maria / Give unto the Lord / Te Deum and Benedictus, Op. 34	8.557288
ELGAR: Part-Songs	8.570541
ENGLISH CHORAL MUSIC	8.557557-58
ENKELIN AANIN (Angel's Voices)	8.503147
FINZI (THE BEST OF)	8.556836
FINZI: Lo, the Full, Final Sacrifice / Magnificat / Unaccompanied Partsongs, Op. 17	8.555792
HOWELLS: Requiem / Take Him, Earth, for Cherishing	8.554659
JESUS CHRIST IN MUSIC	8.557161
LEPAGE-DEAN, Oliver: Evening Hymn (An) - Music for Solo Treble	8.557129
Magnificat: Classical Music for Reflection and Meditation	8.556710
Music and Video Club Vol. 1(UK only)	8.555081
MYSTIC VOICES - Divine Music from the Heavens	8.570169-70
NAXOS 15TH ANNIVERSARY CD	8.555964
RUBBRA: Nine Tenebrae Motets / Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis	8.555255
STANFORD: Anthems and Services	8.555794
STORY OF BRITISH CLASSICAL MUSIC (THE)	8.558193-94
TAVENER: John Tavener - A Portrait (MCCLEERY)	8.558152-53
TAVENER: Song for Athene / Svyati	8.555256
THREE ELIZABETHS (THE): A Musical Celebration of Britain through the Centuries	8.557032-33
WALTON: Twelve (The) / Coronation Te Deum / Missa Brevis	8.555793
WESLEY, S.S.: Anthems	8.570318