BBC Symphony Orchestra
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The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.
The orchestra was founded as a full time organisation in 1930, with Adrian Boult as its first chief conductor. He remained chief conductor until 1950, when Malcolm Sargent took over (holding the post until 1957). Other principal conductors have included Antal Doráti (1962-66), Colin Davis (1967-71), Pierre Boulez (1971-75), Gennady Rozhdestvensky (1978-81) Andrew Davis (no relation to Colin) (1989-2000), and Leonard Slatkin (2000-2004). Also in 2000, the orchestra appointed its first Associate Composer, Mark-Anthony Turnage. John Adams became the BBC Symphony Orchestra's Artist in Association in June 2003. Leonard Slatkin's final concert as Chief Conductor was the Last Night of the Proms 2004. In early 2005, the Czech conductor, Jiří Bělohlávek was named the next Chief Conductor, which position he assumed from the first night of The Proms 2006.
As well as these principal conductors, the orchestra has had several notable guest conductors, including Arturo Toscanini. Past Principal Guest Conductors have included Bělohlávek and Jukka-Pekka Saraste (2002-2005). The current Principal Guest Conductor is the American conductor David Robertson, who took on the role in October 2005 and has recently extended his contract to 2011.
The orchestra frequently commissions works by contemporary composers, and is a particular champion of new British works. Harrison Birtwistle's Earth Dances, Pierre Boulez' Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna and John Tavener's The Protecting Veil were all BBC commissions first played by the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra plays a prominent role in The Proms, the annual season of concerts played at the Royal Albert Hall. It plays on both the first and last nights of the season.
The other BBC orchestras are the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Concert Orchestra.
[edit] Principal conductors
- Adrian Boult (1930–1950)
- Malcolm Sargent (1950–1957)
- Rudolf Schwarz (1957–1963)
- Antal Doráti (1962–1966)
- Colin Davis (1967–1971)
- Pierre Boulez (1971–1975)
- Rudolf Kempe (1976)
- Gennady Rozhdestvensky (1978–1981)
- John Pritchard (1982–1989)
- Andrew Davis (1989–2000)
- Leonard Slatkin (2000–2004)
- Jiří Bělohlávek (2006–incumbent)
[edit] See also
- BBC Concert Orchestra (based in London)
- BBC National Orchestra of Wales
- BBC Philharmonic (based in Manchester)
- BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
- BBC Singers
[edit] External links
| Orchestras based in London, England |
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| Academy of Ancient Music · Academy of St. Martin in the Fields · BBC Concert Orchestra · BBC Symphony Orchestra · Camerata of London · City of London Sinfonia · English Chamber Orchestra · London Philharmonic Orchestra · London Sinfonietta · London Symphony Orchestra · Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment · Philharmonia · Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |
