Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the UK's longest established orchestras, and is based in Liverpool. It is part funded by the local authority, and is run by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society. It is the only orchestra in the UK to have its own hall, the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. The hall has particularly fine acoustics, and has been used for many recordings with the orchestra.
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[edit] History
The orchestra has encountered fiscal troubles over the years, including a 2003 report of a pending large deficit.[1] In addition, there were reports in 2004 of tension between then-principal conductor Gerard Schwarz and the orchestra[2], which led to his contract not being renewed. However, since the 2006 advent of Vasily Petrenko as principal conductor, the orchestra's situation has improved.[3]
[edit] Conductors
The orchestra has had many principal conductors, and some of the most distinguished of these include Max Bruch, Sir Henry Wood, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir Charles Groves, and Sir John Pritchard.
Since 2006, the RLPO principal conductor is Vasily Petrenko. The orchestra also works with Libor Pešek (Conductor Laureate), Vernon Handley (Conductor Emeritus) and Carl Davis.
[edit] Recordings
(section taken from http://www.liverpoolphil.com/discover/orchestra.pdf)
As a recording orchestra the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has a varied and critically acclaimed discography. In particular, Libor Pešek made a number of acclaimed recordings with the RLPO of Czech composers, including music of Antonín Dvořák and Josef Suk. The RLPO's catalogue also includes works by Beethoven, Britten, Mahler, Rachmaninov, Smetana, Strauss, and Vaughan Williams. Several recordings feature the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir.
[edit] RLPO Live
In 1998 the Orchestra launched its own recording label, RLPO Live. The initiative came from the musicians themselves and each recording is made with the in-house recording company, Merseyside Sound Recordings.
In January 2003, RLPO Live and Classico Records joined forces, and the RLPO's recordings are now able to reach international markets in a wide range of territories through Classico's distribution network.
[edit] Other Recordings
A complete cycle of all six symphonies by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen, in a new edition, has been released by the RLPO and Douglas Bostock.
[edit] Partnership with Classic FM
In November 2001, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Classic FM, a major classical music radio station in the UK, announced a new partnership which makes the RLPO Classic FM's "Orchestra in North West England". This relationship has been extended to 2009.
[edit] Principal conductors
- Max Bruch (1880–1883)
- Charles Hallé (1883–1895)
- Henry Wood
- Malcolm Sargent (1942–1948)
- Hugo Rignold (1948–1955)
- Efrem Kurtz (1955–1957)
- John Pritchard (1957–1963)
- Charles Groves (1963–1977)
- Walter Weller (1977–1980)
- David Atherton (1980–1983)
- Marek Janowski (1983–1986)
- Libor Pešek (1987–1997)
- Petr Altrichter (1997–2001)
- Gerard Schwarz (2001–2006)
- Vasily Petrenko (2006–present)
