From the Archives
In addition to enjoying extracts from the Choir archives below, many items are now available for public viewing in Swansea and/or The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth.
For more information - click here
Listen to some historic recordings from the 1950s directed by founder conductor Ivor E. Sims
Below is a fascinating selection from the Choir archives chosen by Roy Pugh
Nansi Richards, principal soprano soloist with the Choir during the 1960s and 1970s
The Choir's contribution to the fame of Max Boyce
Recollections of Ivor Sims by his nephew Geoffrey Sims (1921-96)
The Choir 1935-1985 an article written for the 75th Anniversary Gala Concert in 2010 by Alun Howells and others, augmented with archive material.
The Choir during World War II This first appeared in the 60th Anniversary Concert programme
Worthing 1942. An account of an Orpheus concert for Aid to Russia Week.
Morriston Boys Choir 1944, trained by Ivor Sims, recorded Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols in London. Many of the boys in this choir went on to become members of the Orpheus.
A Complimentary Concert 1946 given as a public appreciation of Mr. Ivor Sims and his valuable service to music in Morriston.
The Miracle of St Helen's 1953. An account of the singing at a rugby international Wales v. South Africa at St Helen's ground Swansea.
Royal Command Performance 1957. Cuttings from the Daily Herald and two other unidentified national newspapers.
Cherubini's Requiem 1960. A combined concert and radio broadcast with the Orpheus, Treorchy Male Voice Choir and the BBC Welsh Orchestra - recorded in March 1960 at St. Mary's Swansea. In the Golden Jubilee Brochure of the Choir (1985) John Davies, Conductor Emeritus of Treorchy refers to this special occasion. Read the letter from John Davies to the Western Mail.
The Cricket Story 1961. Read what happened when the Orpheus tried to make an LP recording with an orchestra under its founder Conductor Ivor Sims in 1961.
Ian Thomas recalls his year with the Morriston Orpheus 1961 in a letter to Roy Pugh.
Eric Rogers 1981 - the man who organised the first Decca recordings of the Orpheus. An obituary from the Morriston Other Times of 1981.
1985 The Golden Jubilee Year - compiled from the archives for the website by Roy Pugh
Overseas Tours -read about the impressive record of the Choir's 30+ overseas tours
