Philharmonia Orchestra
Background information
Also known as	Philharmonia New Philharmonia Orchestra
Born	1945 London, England,UK
Genre(s)	Classical
Occupation(s)	Symphony Orchestra
Label(s)	CBS, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Sony
Website	www.philharmonia.co.uk
Members
Principal Conductor Christoph von Dohnányi Conductor Emeritus Kurt Sanderling Principal Guest Conductor Sir Charles Mackerras Conductor Laureate Vladimir Ashkenazy

The Philharmonia Orchestra is an orchestra based in London. Since 1995 it has been based in the Royal Festival Hall. In Britain it is also the resident orchestra at De Montfort Hall, Leicester and the Bedford Corn Exchange. Image File history File links Philharmonia_logo. ... Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_England_(bordered). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or basic musical language (van der Merwe 1989, p. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A philharmonic orchestra An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually a fairly large instrumental ensemble with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Columbia Records is the oldest continually used brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888. ... Logo Deutsche Grammophon is a German record label. ... The EMI Group (LSE: EMI) is a music company comprising the major record label, EMI Music, based in Brook Green in London, England, and EMI Music Publishing, based on Charing Cross Road, London. ... Sony Records is a record label courtesy of Columbia; Epic; and American Recordings. ... Christoph von Dohnányi (born September 18, 1929) is a German conductor. ... Kurt Sanderling (born September 19, 1912) was a conductor (he announced his retirement in 2002). ... Sir Charles Mackerras Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE, (born November 17, 1925) is an Australian conductor. ... Vladimir Ashkenazy Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (sometimes transliterated Ashkenazi) (Russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович А́шкенази) (born July 6, 1937) is a conductor and, more notably, a pianist. ... A philharmonic orchestra An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually a fairly large instrumental ensemble with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Royal Festival Hall is a concert, dance and talks venue within the South Bank Centre in London, England. ... De Montfort Hall is a music and performance venue in Leicester, England. ... Leicester (pronounced ) is the largest city in the East Midlands of England. ... Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, England. ... Corn Exchange may mean: The Corn Exchange, Maidstone. ...

The orchestra was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, and although it gave live concerts occasionally, it was mainly intended to be a recording orchestra for EMI, where Legge was an executive. Thomas Beecham led its debut concert in 1946, but he was rejected as the orchestra's principal conductor, following his attempts to take control of the orchestra and change its name. Beecham instead went on to found the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.^[1] Walter Legge (June 1, 1906 - March 22, 1979) was an influential British classical record producer, most notably for EMI. Legge first joined HMV in 1927 mainly to work for the editorial of the companys retailing magazine, but he caught the eye of another famous record producer, Fred Gaisberg, and... The EMI Group (LSE: EMI) is a music company comprising the major record label, EMI Music, based in Brook Green in London, England, and EMI Music Publishing, based on Charing Cross Road, London. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is an English orchestra based in London. ...

In its early years, many prominent conductors made recordings with the ensemble, including Arturo Toscanini and Wilhelm Furtwängler. However it was Herbert von Karajan (who was not allowed to work in Germany or Austria at the time because of his associations with the Nazi party) who was most associated with the Philharmonia in its early years. Karajan built the orchestra into one of the finest ensembles in the world, and made numerous recordings, including all the Beethoven symphonies. A conductor conducting a band at a ceremony A conductors score and batons Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... Arturo Toscanini listening to playbacks at RCA Victor (BMG Music) Arturo Toscanini (March 25, 1867 – January 16, 1957) was an Italian musician. ... Portrait by Emil Orlik, 1928 Wilhelm Furtwängler (January 25, 1886 – November 30, 1954) was a German conductor and composer. ... Herbert von Karajan (Salzburg April 5, 1908 Anif near Salzburg – July 16, 1989) was an Austrian conductor. ... National Socialism redirects here. ...

In 1954 Karajan left to lead the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Needing to find a new conductor for the orchestra, Legge turned to Otto Klemperer, whose career was flagging at the time. This proved to be an inspired decision, and Klemperer's name became indelibly linked with the orchestra during an "Indian Summer" of great recordings. In 1959 Klemperer was named music director for life. The Berlin Philharmonic rehearsing in the Berliner Philharmonie. ... Photographic portrait taken ca. ...

On 10 March 1964, Legge announced that he was going to disband the Philharmonia Orchestra. At a recording session with Otto Klemperer, a meeting was convened where those present unanimously agreed that they would not allow the Orchestra to be disbanded. Klemperer gave his immediate support, and on 17 March 1964 the Orchestra elected their own governing body and adopted the name New Philharmonia Orchestra. The inaugural concert of the New Philharmonia Orchestra under its own auspices took place on 27 October 1964. It was a performance of Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, conducted by Klemperer, who was now honourary president of the orchestra. March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Photographic portrait taken ca. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in leap years). ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... 1820 portrait by Joseph Karl Stieler Beethoven redirects here. ... The Symphony No. ...

The orchestra gave many more live performances after it became self-governing than it had under Legge's stewardship. Continuing as the New Philharmonia Orchestra, it reacquired the rights to the name “Philharmonia Orchestra” in 1977, and has been known by that name since.

Klemperer retired from conducting in 1971, but was officially still its principal conductor until his death in 1973. For those two intervening years, Lorin Maazel held the post of associate principal conductor (1971-1973), and was effectively the principal conductor. Riccardo Muti was principal conductor from 1973 to 1982; he was followed by Giuseppe Sinopoli (1984-1994). In 1997, Christoph von Dohnányi took up the post. In November 2006, it was announced that Dohnányi would step down in 2008, and that Esa-Pekka Salonen would then become Principal Conductor.^[2] Salonen has often conducted the orchestra in concerts and records over a period of more than twenty years, and also served as principal guest conductor of the Philharmonia from 1985 to 1994. Lorin Varencove Maazel (born March 6, 1930) is a conductor, violinist and composer. ... Riccardo Muti (born July 28, 1941, in Naples) is an Italian conductor best known for being the Music Director of Milans La Scala opera house, a position he held from 1986 to 2005, and of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 to 1992. ... Giuseppe Sinopoli (November 2, 1946 - April 20, 2001) was a conductor and composer. ... Christoph von Dohnányi (born September 18, 1929) is a German conductor. ...

The Philharmonia is the most recorded orchestra in the world, with over one thousand recordings. It has also been heard on the soundtracks of many films, performing the musical scores of such classics as Laurence Olivier's 1944 film version of Shakespeare's Henry V, and David Lean's film version of Oliver Twist (1948). Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM (22 May 1907–11 July 1989) was an Academy Award, Golden Globe, BAFTA and four-time Emmy winning English actor, director, and producer. ... Shakespeare redirects here. ... Title page of the first quarto (1600) The Cronicle History of Henry the fift is a play by William Shakespeare based on the life of King Henry V of England. ... Sir David Lean, KBE (March 25, 1908 – April 16, 1991) was an English film director and producer, best remembered for big-screen epics such as Lawrence of Arabia, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Doctor Zhivago . ... Oliver Twist (1948) is the second of David Leans two Dickens adaptations. ...

Principal Conductors/Music Directors

• 1997– Christoph von Dohnányi
• 1984–1994 Giuseppe Sinopoli
• 1973–1982 Riccardo Muti
• 1959–1973 Otto Klemperer

Esa-Pekka Salonen is scheduled to take up the position in 2008.^[3] Christoph von Dohnányi (born September 18, 1929) is a German conductor. ... Giuseppe Sinopoli (November 2, 1946 - April 20, 2001) was a conductor and composer. ... Riccardo Muti (born July 28, 1941, in Naples) is an Italian conductor best known for being the Music Director of Milans La Scala opera house, a position he held from 1986 to 2005, and of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 1980 to 1992. ... Photographic portrait taken ca. ... Esa-Pekka Salonen ( ) (born June 30, 1958 in Helsinki) is a prominent Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. ...

References

2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

External links

• Philharmonia Orchestra Official website
• Philharmonia Orchestra at allmusic.com