One of the finest orchestras on the international stage, the London Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1932 by Sir Thomas Beecham. Since then, its Principal Conductors have included Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, Sir Georg Solti, Klaus Tennstedt and Kurt Masur. In September 2021 Edward Gardner became the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, succeeding Vladimir Jurowski, who becomes Conductor Emeritus in recognition of his extraordinary impact on the Orchestra as Principal Conductor from 2007–21. Karina Canellakis is the Orchestra’s current Principal Guest Conductor and Brett Dean is the Orchestra’s current Composer-in-Residence.
The Orchestra has performed at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall since it opened in 1951, becoming Resident Orchestra in 1992. It also has residencies in Brighton, Eastbourne and Saffron Walden. Each summer it plays for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where it has been Resident Symphony Orchestra for over 50 years. The Orchestra also tours internationally, performing to sell-out audiences worldwide.
The Orchestra broadcasts regularly on television and radio, and has recorded soundtracks for numerous blockbuster films including The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It has made many distinguished recordings over the last eight decades and in 2005 began releasing live, studio and archive recordings on its own CD label.
During the pandemic period the LPO has further developed its relationship with UK and international audiences through its ‘LPOnline’ digital content: over 100 videos of performances, insights, and introductions to playlists, which have so far collectively received over 3 million views worldwide and led to the LPO being named runner-up in the Digital Classical Music Awards 2020. From Autumn 2021 the Orchestra was delighted to be able to return to its Southbank Centre home to perform a season of concerts filmed live and streamed via Marquee TV.
September 2021 sees the opening of a new live concert season at the Royal Festival Hall, featuring 34 concerts of brilliantly curated programmes performed by many of the world’s leading musicians – and all in front of live audiences. In addition to its new Principal Conductor, Edward Gardner, the LPO also welcomes Karina Canellakis who begins her first full season as Principal Guest Conductor, and welcomes back Vladimir Jurowski in his new role of Conductor Emeritus. This triumvirate of conductors lead a bold and ambitious season featuring Sheku Kanneh-Mason, Klaus Makela, Renée Fleming, Bryn Terfel and this season’s Artist-in-Residence, Julia Fischer. The season encompasses a broad range of repertoire including 11 premieres from composers such as Tan Dun, Danny Elfman, Jimmy López and Rebecca Saunders. The LPO is delighted to be continuing to offer digital streams to selected concerts throughout the season through its ongoing partnership with Intersection and Marquee TV.
