Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | |
---|---|
Short name | RPO |
Founded | 1946 |
Location | London, UK |
Concert hall | Cadogan Hall Royal Albert Hall |
Website | www |
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London.
The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable recording contracts and important engagements including the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the concerts of the Royal Philharmonic Society. After Beecham's death in 1961, the RPO's fortunes declined steeply. The RPO battled for survival until the mid-1960s, when its future was secured after a report by the Arts Council of Great Britain recommended that it should receive public subsidy. A further crisis arose in the same era when it seemed that the orchestra's right to call itself "Royal" could be withdrawn.
In 2004, the RPO acquired its first permanent London base, at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. The RPO also gives concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall and venues around the UK and other countries. Since the start of the 2021–2022 season, the orchestra's musical director has been Vasily Petrenko.
History
Origins
In 1932,
In 1946, Beecham reached an agreement with the
Naturally, it quickly became known that he was planning another orchestra, at which the cry "He'll never get the players!" went up just as it had done in 1932. Beecham was unmoved: "I always get the players," he retorted. "Among other considerations, they are so good they refuse to play under anybody but me".[9]
Beecham's orchestra
Beecham appointed Victor Olof as his orchestral manager, and they started recruiting. At the top of their list were leading musicians with whom Beecham had worked before the war. Four had been founder members of the LPO fifteen years previously: Reginald Kell (clarinet), Gerald Jackson (flute), James Bradshaw (timpani) and Jack Silvester (double-bass). From the current LPO they engaged the oboist Peter Newbury. Beecham persuaded the veteran bassoonist Archie Camden, who had been pursuing a solo career, to return to orchestral work. The cellos were led by Raymond Clark, enlisted from the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The principal horn player was Dennis Brain, who already held the same post in Legge's Philharmonia, but managed to play for both orchestras.[10] Jenkins speculates that as Beecham knew all Britain's orchestral leaders at first hand he decided not to try to lure any of them away. His choice was John Pennington, who had been first violin of the London String Quartet from 1927 to 1934, and had then had a career in the US as concertmaster, successively, of the San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Paramount Pictures orchestras.[10][11]
On 11 September 1946, the Royal Philharmonic assembled for its first rehearsal.[10] Four days later it gave its first concert, at the Davis Theatre, Croydon.[12] Beecham telegraphed a colleague, "Press virtually unanimous in praise of orchestra. First Croydon concert huge success".[13] Beecham and the orchestra played a series of out-of-town engagements before venturing a first London concert on 26 October. The Times then spoke of "a hall filled with golden tone which enveloped the listener".[14] Before its London debut the orchestra made its first recording and, within two years, had made more than 100.[15]
Within a few months, Pennington was forced to resign when the British
Brain continued to play first horn for both orchestras; otherwise, from the early 1950s, there was generally more stability of orchestral personnel. In particular, the RPO became celebrated for its regular team of woodwind principals, in which Jackson was joined by Jack Brymer (clarinet), Gwydion Brooke (bassoon) and Terence MacDonagh (oboe).[20] The Independent described them as "arguably the finest ever wind section ... [they] became known as 'The Royal Family'."[21][n 4]
The RPO toured the United States in 1950, the first British orchestra to visit America since the
The orchestra's first appearance at the
Beecham conducted the RPO in his last concert, given at
1961–2000
Gentlemen, there are four other orchestras in London; you can always go and work for them.
Lady Beecham to RPO members, 1963[31]
The severance of the tie with the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1963 turned out to be temporary,[n 6] but for three years it threatened to deprive the RPO of the "Royal" in its title. The matter was resolved in 1966, when, on the advice of Roy Jenkins who, as Home Secretary, had responsibility for such matters, the Queen conferred the title unconditionally on the orchestra.[38]
The RPO celebrated its silver jubilee in 1971. On 15 September, the orchestra returned to Croydon, where it had made its debut 25 years earlier. The theatre in which it had first played had been demolished and the anniversary concert was therefore given at the Fairfield Halls. The programme consisted of the overture to The Marriage of Figaro, Beethoven's Emperor Concerto, and Holst's The Planets. Sir Adrian Boult conducted, and Clifford Curzon was the soloist.[39] Five members of the original orchestra were still in the RPO for the jubilee concert: Leonard Brain (brother of Dennis), principal cor anglais; Lewis Pocock, co-principal timpani; Ernest Ineson, double bass; John Myers, viola; and Albert Pievsky, violin.[36]
The RPO gave Kempe the title of "Conductor for Life" in 1970. Kempe stepped down from the orchestra in 1975, the year before his death. Antal Doráti succeeded Kempe as chief conductor from 1975 to 1978. As in his earlier spells with the LSO and BBC Symphony Orchestra, he was not greatly liked by his players, but raised their standard of playing and imposed discipline.[40]
In 1984, a new threat to the orchestra emerged, where a review carried out on behalf of the Arts Council by the journalist
Since 1993, the RPO has had a community and education programme, later given the title of "RPO Resound". It aims to increase "access to and engagement with world-class music-making."[43] It has worked in venues including homeless shelters, hospices, youth clubs and prisons.[43]
On 7 April 1994, the RPO, with guest leader Hugh Bean, was joined by the Cappella Giulia of Saint Peter's Basilica and the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, cellist Lynn Harrell and actor Richard Dreyfuss, in the Papal Concert to Commemorate the Shoah, conducted by Gilbert Levine.[44] This concert was attended by Pope John Paul II, Chief Rabbi of Rome Elio Toaff, and President of Italy Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, and was broadcast throughout Europe via Eurovision and on PBS stations throughout the United States. It was released on CD by Justice Records[45] and as video by Time-Warner.[46]
21st century
The orchestra gives an annual series of concerts at the Festival Hall and, since 2004, has had a permanent home at Cadogan Hall, a former church in Chelsea, converted into a 900-seat concert hall and rehearsal space.[47] At the Royal Albert Hall in London, the RPO gives performances ranging from large-scale choral and orchestral works to evenings of popular classics.[43]
The RPO returned to international television on 29 July 2005, when it was joined by the
The orchestra maintains a regional touring programme, taking in venues throughout the UK, and has established residencies in Aylesbury, Crawley, Croydon, Dartford, High Wycombe, Ipswich, Lowestoft, Northampton and Reading.[43][n 7] The RPO regularly tours overseas; since 2010 it has played in Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, Turkey[51][52] and the US. In 2010–11 and two subsequent seasons the RPO was the resident orchestra for a series of concerts in Montreux, Switzerland.[43] In 2010 the orchestra toured England, with a repertoire preponderantly of Beethoven, including the Violin Concerto in which Pinchas Zukerman was both soloist and conductor.[53] In the same year, another tour featured Maxim Shostakovich conducting the music of his father, Dmitri Shostakovich.[54] The RPO continues to feature at the Proms. In December 2015, RPO gave a concert with Sezen Aksu at Zorlu PSM.[51][52] In November 2019, the Royal Albert Hall announced the RPO as its official associate orchestra, with an initial contract of 5 years.[55]
The orchestra's community and education activities have continued into the 21st century. In May 2013, six youth ensembles from London boroughs and a 3,500-strong choir of children from local primary schools were given the chance to perform alongside members of the RPO at the Albert Hall. They played a piece composed by participants from all six musical ensembles.[56]
In November 2022, three performances by the orchestra were released on streaming service On Air. Recorded at BBC Television Centre, performances of The Rite Of Spring, The Firebird and Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky were captured.[57] In 2023, RPO musicians were selected to play at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[58]
In March 2024, the RPO announced the appointment of Sarah Bardwell as its next managing director, in succession to James Williams.[59]
Players and conductors
Among the well-known musicians who have been RPO principals in the mid-1950s and later, string players include Steven Staryk (leader, 1957–1959), Raymond Cohen (leader, 1959–1966), Alan Loveday (leader, 1967–1971), Erich Gruenberg (leader, 1972–1976), Barry Griffiths (leader, 1976–1989), Jonathan Carney (leader, 1991–1994) and Frederick Riddle (viola, 1953–1977). Among the woodwind principals have been Geoffrey Gilbert (flute, 1957–1961), James Galway (flute, 1967–1969), Antony Pay (clarinet, 1968–1978) and Michael Chapman (bassoon, 1978–1999). Principals in the brass section have included Alan Civil (horn, 1952–1955), Philip Jones (trumpet, 1956–1960), Elgar Howarth (trumpet, 1963–1969) and Martin Owen (horn, 1998–2008).[60]
Chief conductors since Dorati have been Walter Weller (1980–1985), André Previn (1985–1992), Vladimir Ashkenazy (1987–1994), Yuri Temirkanov (1992–1998) and Daniele Gatti (1996–2009).[61] Charles Dutoit was artistic director and principal conductor from 2009 until January 2018, when he resigned after allegations of sexual misconduct.[62]
From 1992 to 2000, Peter Maxwell Davies was associate conductor and composer to the RPO.[61] Other conductors with close ties to the orchestra have included Sir Charles Groves, Vernon Handley, Sir Charles Mackerras, Yehudi Menuhin, Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Leopold Stokowski.[63] Grzegorz Nowak was appointed principal associate conductor in 2008, and in the following year, Pinchas Zukerman became the RPO's principal guest conductor.
Vasily Petrenko first guest-conducted the RPO in March 2016. In July 2018, the RPO announced the appointment of Petrenko as its new music director, with an initial contract of five years from the 2021–2022 season.[64] In April 2024, the RPO announced the appointment of Joe Hisaishi as its next composer-in-association.[65]
Recordings
From the RPO's earliest days to the end of Beecham's life, they made numerous recordings for
After Beecham's death, the RPO made many recordings for Decca, sometimes under pseudonyms such as the "Beecham Symphony Orchestra", the "London Festival Orchestra" and the "Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra".[67] In the 1960s, the RPO also recorded commercially with such conductors as Sir John Barbirolli, Fritz Reiner, Charles Munch, Georges Prêtre, Kempe, Previn and Stokowski.[67] Soloists included Earl Wild, Shura Cherkassky, Alan Civil and Luciano Pavarotti.[67]
In 1986, the orchestra launched RPO Records, claimed to be "the world's first record label to be owned by a symphony orchestra".[63] Recordings available on the RPO label in 2013 ranged from core symphonic repertoire and Tchaikovsky ballet scores to film music by various composers, light music by Burt Bacharach and Richard Rodgers, and an album called "Symphonic Rock", described as "Over 3 hours of classic rock anthems and pop tracks with an orchestral twist".[71]
Non-classical work
As well as performing works from the classical repertoire, the RPO has recorded a number of film scores, including those for Powell and Pressburger's The Red Shoes and The Tales of Hoffmann. Other scores recorded by the RPO are Olivier's Richard III, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.[72]
With Tony Bremner, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra rerecorded symphonic suites from various episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. These recordings were released in 1985 under Label "X" in two volumes.[73][74]
In 1987, the RPO established a sister ensemble, the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, which plays lighter classics. It succeeded a similar group, the Royal Philharmonic Pops Orchestra.[63] In 1989, the RPO recorded the flamenco album "Soy Gitano" (I am a gipsy man) with Camarón de la Isla.
RPO players have been involved with many performances away from the classical repertory. In the 1960s, they pioneered the "mixed media" concert, appearing with
Notes and references
- Notes
- ^ Of the 75 players who constituted the LPO in 1944 only 18 had been in the LPO that Beecham left in 1940.[4]
- ^ The Society had its own orchestra from its foundation in 1813 until 1932, when it agreed with Beecham that the new LPO would play at all its concerts.[7] The new Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was granted the right to use the name when playing for the Society or at any other performance conducted by or under the artistic control of Beecham.[8]
- ^ At the time, union membership was compulsory for players in British orchestras.[17]
- ^ Jackson left the orchestra in 1958 and was succeeded by Geoffrey Gilbert, whom The Times called "the most influential British flautist of the twentieth century". The quartet of woodwind soloists continued to be generally known as "the Royal Family"[22]
- ^ Shirley, née Hudson, Beecham's third wife and former secretary, whom he married in 1959, a year after Betty Humby Beecham died.[33]
- ^ The RPS resumed its association with the orchestra from the 1966–67 season.[37]
- ^ The number of towns and cities in which the RPO regularly plays is reflected in the sobriquet adopted in some of the orchestra's marketing: "The Nation's Favourite Orchestra".[50]
- References
- ^ Glock, William, "Music", The Observer 8 October 1944, p. 2; and "Sir T. Beecham's Return", The Times, 9 October 1944, p. 8
- ^ Reid (1961), p. 230
- ^ a b c d Reid (1961), p. 231
- ^ Lucas, p. 306
- ^ Osborne, p. 248
- ^ "Orchestra Refuse to Drop 'Royal' from Title, The Times, 19 August 1964, p. 10
- ^ Three Orchestras", The Times 24 September 1932, p. 8; and "The Royal Philharmonic", The Manchester Guardian, 21 August 1946, p. 3
- Baker, George. "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra", The Times, 4 July 1964, p. 9
- ^ Jenkins (2005), p. 99
- ^ a b c Jenkins (2005), pp. 99–100
- ^ Lucas, p. 317
- ^ "Sir Thomas Beecham's New Orchestra", The Times, 12 September 1946, p. 6
- ^ Cardus et al, p 4
- ^ "Delius Festival", The Times, 28 October 1946, p. 6
- ^ a b Potts, p. 8
- ^ Lucas, p. 319
- ^ Orchestral Politics", The Times, 26 August 1949, p. 8
- ^ Jenkins (2005), p. 100
- ^ Hill, p. 214
- ^ Jenkins (2000), p. 5
- ^ Melville-Mason, Graham. "Gwydion Brooke – Bassoonist in Sir Thomas Beecham's 'Royal Family'", The Independent, 5 April 2005
- ^ "Geoffrey Gilbert", The Times, 22 May 1989, p. 20
- ^ a b Gamble and Lynch, p. 60
- ^ Downes, Olin. "Beecham Superb in Concert Here; Conducts Royal Philharmonic in Stirring Concert", The New York Times, 14 December 1950, p. 50 (subscription required)
- ^ Howes, Frank. "London Orchestras", The Times, 8 June 1951, p. 6
- ^ Cardus et al, p. 4
- ^ "Promenade Concert – Sir Thomas Beecham's Début", The Times, 6 September 1954, p. 9
- ^ Lucas, pp. 331–332
- ^ Lucas, p. 338
- ^ Lucas, p. 339
- ^ a b "Lives Remembered", The Times, 2 October 2003, p. 41
- ^ "Rudolf Kempe", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 2 June 2013
- ^ Reid (1961), p. 241
- ^ Peacock, p. 9
- ^ Reid (1968), pp. 429–434
- ^ a b Cardus et al, p. 6
- ^ Potts, p. 11
- ^ "Orchestra Wins Royal Fight", The Times, 16 July 1966, p. 12
- ^ Cardus et al, pp. 12–13
- ^ "Great Orchestra's Predicament", The Times, 28 June 1963, p. 18; and "Antal Dorati", The Times, 16 November 1988, p. 18
- ^ Morrison, p 152
- Grove Music Online, Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 June 2013 (subscription required)
- ^ a b c d e "About the orchestra", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 4 June 2013
- ^ Tagliabue, John (8 April 1994). "Holocaust Lamentations Echo at Vatican". The New York Times.
- ^ "Audio CD: Papal Concert to Commemorate Holocaust". Amazon.
- ASIN 6303277020.
- ^ Binney, Marcus. "Music's coming home – royally", The Times 12 July 2044
- ^ "Message of greeting from Pope Benedict XVI". Presseportal. WDR West German Broadcasting. 29 July 2005.
- ^ "From Heart To Heart: Beethoven's Plea For Peace". WQED Pressroom. 16 October 2008.
- ^ "Support – Organisations", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 10 June 2013
- ^ YouTubeRetrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ YouTubeRetrieved 3 January 2023.
- ^ "Inaugural UK Tour for Pinchas Zukerman with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 8 June 2013
- ^ " Shostakovich conducts Shostakovich with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 8 June 2013
- ^ "2020 Vision: Royal Albert Hall and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra join forces" (Press release). Royal Albert Hall. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ "Pass the Torch", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 8 June 2013
- ^ "BBC Studio – Stream Live Concerts, Shows & Events | On Air". On Air. 1 November 2022.
- ^ "Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce further details of the twelve new compositions that have been written for the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May 2023". The Royal Family. 16 April 2023. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "RPO announces new Managing Director" (Press release). Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
- ^ Potts, pp. 13 and 19; "RPO", Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 June 2013 (subscription required); and Martin Owen", Royal Academy of Music. Retrieved 10 June 2013
- ^ a b "Past conductors", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 2 June 2013
- ^ "Charles Dutoit Steps Down Early as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra" (Press release). Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 10 January 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d Golding and Beales, pp. 2–3
- ^ "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Announced Vasily Petrenko as Music Director from 2021–22 Season" (Press release). Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "RPO appoints Joe Hisaishi as Composer-in-Association" (Press release). Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 2 July 2018. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
- ^ "EMI Great Recordings of the Century", Archiv music. Retrieved 3 June 2013
- ^ a b c d e Stuart, Philip. Decca Classical 1929–2009. Retrieved 4 June 2013
- ^ Blyth, p. 52
- ^ "Press reviews", Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
- ^ Cardus et al, pp. 22–23
- ^ "RPO Records", Orchid Classics. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
- ^ Cardus et al, p. 17
- ^ "Star Trek Symphonic Suites Arranged From The Original Television Scores". Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ "Star Trek Volume 2 – Symphonic Suites Arranged From The Original Television Scores". Discogs. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
- ^ Cardus et al, p. 7
- ^ Widran, Jonathan, "Yanni / Live at the Acropolis / review" (WebCite archive), AllMusic, 1994 or later.
- ^ "UEFA Champions League anthem", UEFA. Retrieved 13 July 2012
- ^ Macleod, Erin (20 October 2014). "Reggae Legend John Holt Dead at 69". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- ^ "Freddie McGregor". Los Angeles Philharmonic. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
- Sources
- OCLC 675416.
- OCLC 22592704.
- Golding, Robin; Brendan Beales (1994). Notes to Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor and Lyric pieces. London: Tring. OCLC 36052553.
- Hill, Ralph, ed. (1951). Music 1951. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin Books. OCLC 26147349.
- Jenkins, Lyndon (2000). Notes to Bizet Symphony in C and L'Arlésienne Suites. London: EMI. OCLC 271816594.
- Jenkins, Lyndon (2005). While Spring and Summer Sang: Thomas Beecham and the music of Frederick Delius. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN 0-7546-0721-6.
- Lucas, John (2008). Thomas Beecham: An Obsession with Music. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. ISBN 978-1-84383-402-1.
- Morrison, Richard (2004). Orchestra. London: Faber. ISBN 0-571-21584-X.
- Osborne, Richard (1998). Herbert von Karajan: A Life in Music. London: Chatto and Windus. ISBN 1-85619-763-8.
- Peacock, Alan (chairman) (1970). Report on Orchestral Resources in Great Britain. London: Arts Council of Great Britain. ISBN 0-11-981062-X.
- Potts, Joseph E (1967). The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, 1946–67. London: RPO. OCLC 9215763.
- Reid, Charles (1961). Thomas Beecham: An Independent Biography. London: Victor Gollancz. OCLC 500565141.
- Reid, Charles (1968). Malcolm Sargent: a biography. London: Hamish Hamilton. ISBN 0-8008-5080-7.
External links
- Official website
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra discography at Discogs
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at IMDb