London Philharmonic Orchestra: A Legacy of Excellence
Founded in 1932 by renowned conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent, the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) was established as a rival to the existing London Symphony Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra. The ambitious founders aimed to create an orchestra that could rival its European and American counterparts, and they succeeded in achieving this goal between 1932 and the outbreak of World War II.
During the war, the orchestra's private backers withdrew their support, and the players reconstituted the LPO as a self-governing cooperative. This move allowed the orchestra to maintain its high standards despite the challenging circumstances.
In the post-war years, the LPO faced stiff competition from two new rival orchestras, the Philharmonia and the Royal Philharmonic, which were founded in 1946 and 1947, respectively. These orchestras achieved a level of playing that rivaled the LPO, and the older orchestra struggled to match their quality.
However, by the 1960s, the LPO had regained its earlier standards, and in 1964, it secured a valuable engagement to perform at the Glyndebourne Festival opera house during the summer months. This partnership has continued to the present day.
In 1993, the LPO was appointed as the resident orchestra of the Royal Festival Hall on the south bank of the Thames, one of London's premier concert venues. Since 1995, this residency has been jointly held with the Philharmonia.
The LPO performs regularly at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne, and the Brighton Dome, and it tours nationally and internationally. The orchestra has had ten principal conductors since its founding, including Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Sir Georg Solti, Klaus Tennstedt, and Vladimir Jurowski.
The LPO has been actively involved in recording studios since its early days, and it has played on hundreds of sets made by EMI, Decca, and other companies. Since 2005, the orchestra has had its own record label, releasing live recordings of concerts. The LPO has also played on numerous film soundtracks, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and the Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003).
Throughout its history, the LPO has maintained its commitment to excellence, and it continues to be one of the world's leading orchestras.
