Royal Philharmonic Orchestra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |
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The RPO at Cadogan Hall, its home since 2004
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| Short name | RPO |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Location | London, UK |
| Concert hall | Cadogan Hall Royal Albert Hall |
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a famous British orchestra based in London. An orchestra is a large group of musicians who play different instruments together.
The RPO was started by a conductor named Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early years, the orchestra got good deals for recording music and important jobs, like playing for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. After Beecham passed away in 1961, the RPO faced tough times. They struggled to survive until the mid-1960s, when a report from the Arts Council of Great Britain suggested they should get money from the government. Around the same time, there was a worry that the orchestra might lose its "Royal" title.
In 2004, the RPO found its first permanent home in London at Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. The RPO also performs at the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, and in many other places across the UK and other countries. Since 2021, the orchestra's main conductor has been Vasily Petrenko.
Contents
History of the RPO
How the Orchestra Started
In 1932, Sir Thomas Beecham had already started another orchestra called the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO). He ran it with help from rich supporters until 1940, when World War II made it hard to get money. Beecham went to conduct in other countries. When he came back to England in 1944, the LPO welcomed him. They played concerts together that critics loved.
However, the LPO players now managed themselves and didn't want Beecham to have complete control like before. If he wanted to be their chief conductor again, he would be an employee. Beecham said he would not be told what to do by any orchestra. He decided to start "one more great orchestra" to finish his career.
In 1946, Beecham made a deal with the Royal Philharmonic Society. His new orchestra would play at all their concerts. This allowed him to name the new group the "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra," which King George VI approved. Beecham also arranged for the RPO to be the main orchestra at the Glyndebourne Festival. He also got support from record companies, which led to good recording deals.
A music writer named Lyndon Jenkins said that Beecham was confident he would find the best musicians. Beecham believed that good players would only want to play for him.
Beecham's Orchestra in Action
Beecham and his manager, Victor Olof, began finding musicians. They looked for top players Beecham had worked with before the war. Many famous musicians joined, including Dennis Brain on horn, who also played for another orchestra at the time.
On September 11, 1946, the Royal Philharmonic had its first practice. Four days later, they played their first concert in Croydon. Beecham sent a message saying the concert was a "huge success." They played several concerts outside London before their first London concert on October 26. The Times newspaper wrote that the hall was "filled with golden tone." The orchestra also made its first recording before its London debut and made over 100 recordings within two years.
In the early days, the RPO had 72 musicians. They were on yearly contracts with Beecham, meaning he could ask them to play first. However, they could still play for other groups. Later, the orchestra became known for its amazing woodwind section, nicknamed "The Royal Family." This group included Jack Brymer (clarinet), Gwydion Brooke (bassoon), and Terence MacDonagh (oboe).
The RPO toured the United States in 1950. This was the first time a British orchestra had visited America since 1912. Beecham had planned this for a long time. They played 52 concerts in 45 cities over 64 days! The tour was a big success. The New York Times praised the "magnificent music-making." In 1951, a critic from The Times said the RPO was "nearest in quality and in consistency of style to the great international orchestras."
The orchestra first played at the Proms in 1952. Beecham himself conducted at the Proms two years later. In 1957, Beecham and the RPO toured Europe, playing in cities like Paris and Vienna.
Beecham conducted his last concert with the RPO on May 7, 1960. He passed away in March 1961.
The RPO from 1961 to 2000
Rudolf Kempe became the RPO's main conductor in 1961. After Beecham's death, some key players left. The orchestra became a self-governing company in 1963 but soon faced problems. They were not hired for some concerts and were even stopped from using the Royal Festival Hall, a major concert venue in London. Kempe resigned for a short time.
With strong support from Sir Malcolm Sargent, the orchestra held its own successful concerts. A report in 1965 suggested that all four main London orchestras should receive money from the government.
The RPO's connection with the Royal Philharmonic Society was cut for a while, which threatened their "Royal" title. But in 1966, the Queen officially gave the title to the orchestra for good.
The RPO celebrated its 25th birthday (silver jubilee) in 1971. They played a concert in Croydon, where they had first performed. Sir Adrian Boult conducted, and Clifford Curzon was the piano soloist. Five of the original musicians from 1946 were still playing with the RPO at this concert.
Rudolf Kempe was given the title "Conductor for Life" in 1970. He left the orchestra in 1975. Antal Doráti took over as chief conductor from 1975 to 1978. He helped improve the orchestra's playing standards.
In the 1980s, the British government reduced funding for arts groups. To make up for this, the RPO had to rely more on money from businesses. This kind of support can be less certain in the long run.
Since 1993, the RPO has had a special program called "RPO Resound." This program helps more people experience great music. They have worked in places like homeless shelters, hospitals, youth clubs, and even prisons.
In 1994, the RPO played in a special concert at the Vatican, attended by Pope John Paul II. This concert was broadcast around the world.
The RPO in the 21st Century
The RPO performs a series of concerts every year at the Festival Hall. Since 2004, their permanent home has been Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. This used to be a church but was turned into a concert hall with 900 seats. At the Royal Albert Hall, the RPO plays everything from big orchestral pieces to popular classic songs.
The RPO was seen on international television again in 2005. They performed a large work by Beethoven in Cologne Cathedral. This performance was shown on TV channels in Europe and the US.
The orchestra also travels around the UK, performing in many towns. They have regular places they play in, like Aylesbury and Croydon. The RPO often tours other countries too. Since 2010, they have played in places like China, Japan, and the US. In 2019, the Royal Albert Hall named the RPO its official associate orchestra for five years.
The RPO's community and education programs are still very active. In 2013, young musicians and a large choir of children performed with members of the RPO at the Albert Hall. They even played a piece that the young participants helped to create.
In 2022, the RPO released three performances on a streaming service. In 2023, RPO musicians were chosen to play at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.
In March 2024, Sarah Bardwell was announced as the RPO's new managing director.
Players and Conductors
Many famous musicians have been principal players in the RPO over the years. These include violinists like Steven Staryk and Erich Gruenberg, and viola player Frederick Riddle. In the woodwind section, famous players include flutists Geoffrey Gilbert and James Galway, and clarinetist Antony Pay. Well-known brass players include horn players Alan Civil and Martin Owen, and trumpet player Philip Jones.
After Antal Doráti, the chief conductors of the RPO have included Walter Weller (1980–1985), André Previn (1985–1992), Vladimir Ashkenazy (1987–1994), Yuri Temirkanov (1992–1998), and Daniele Gatti (1996–2009). Charles Dutoit was the artistic director and principal conductor from 2009 until 2018.
Other conductors who have worked closely with the RPO include Sir Charles Groves, Yehudi Menuhin, and Leopold Stokowski. Grzegorz Nowak became the principal associate conductor in 2008. In 2009, Pinchas Zukerman became the RPO's principal guest conductor.
Vasily Petrenko first conducted the RPO in 2016. In 2018, the RPO announced that Petrenko would be their new music director, starting in 2021. In April 2024, Joe Hisaishi was named the orchestra's next composer-in-association.
Recordings
From the very beginning, the RPO made many recordings with Beecham. Some of these recordings are considered "Great Recordings of the Century." They included music by composers like Delius, Grieg, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky.
After Beecham passed away, the RPO made many more recordings. Sometimes they used different names, like the "Beecham Symphony Orchestra." In the 1960s, they recorded with other famous conductors and soloists, including Luciano Pavarotti.
Igor Stravinsky recorded his opera The Rake's Progress with the RPO in 1964. Colin Davis also made some of his first recordings with the orchestra. From 1964 to 1979, the RPO recorded Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The orchestra has also recorded for many other record labels.
In 1986, the orchestra started its own record label, RPO Records. This was said to be the first record label owned by a symphony orchestra. In 2013, their own label offered recordings of classical music, ballet scores, film music, and even "Symphonic Rock."
Other Music and Projects
The RPO doesn't just play classical music. They have also recorded music for many films, including The Red Shoes, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes.
In 1985, the RPO re-recorded music from Star Trek: The Original Series.
In 1987, the RPO started a sister group called the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. This group plays lighter classical music. In 1989, the RPO recorded a flamenco album with Camarón de la Isla.
RPO musicians have also been involved in many non-classical performances. In the 1960s, they played with the rock band The Nice. Later, they performed with Yanni at the Acropolis in Greece in 1993. In 1992, the UEFA asked the orchestra to record the UEFA Champions League Hymn. Jamaican reggae singers John Holt and Freddie McGregor performed with the Orchestra in 2003.
See also
In Spanish: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra para niños
