English Chamber Orchestra

The English Chamber Orchestra is a small (hence "chamber") orchestra based in London.

Related Topics:
Orchestra - London

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It has its roots in the Goldsbrough Orchestra, founded in 1948 by Lawrence Leonard and Arnold Goldsbrough. The group took its current name in 1960, when it expanded its repertoire from outside the baroque period for the first time. Its repertoire remained limited by the group's size, which has stayed fairly consistently at around the size of an orchestra of Mozart's time.

Related Topics:
Lawrence Leonard - Arnold Goldsbrough - Baroque - Mozart

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Shortly afterwards, it became closely associated with the Aldeburgh Festival, playing in the premieres of Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Owen Wingrave, Curlew River and several other of his works. Britten conducted the orchestra on several occasions, and made a number of records with the group.

Related Topics:
Aldeburgh Festival - Benjamin Britten - A Midsummer Night's Dream - Owen Wingrave - Curlew River

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The orchestra did not at this time have a principal conductor, but worked closely with a succession of guest conductors including Raymond Leppard, Colin Davis and Daniel Barenboim. In 1985 Jeffrey Tate was appointed the ensemble's first principal conductor.

Related Topics:
Raymond Leppard - Colin Davis - Daniel Barenboim - Jeffrey Tate

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In 2000, Ralf Gothóni was appointed principal conductor.

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The orchestra has recently worked together with African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo in an amazing collaboration in January 2005.

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Other London-based orchestras include the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

Related Topics:
London Symphony Orchestra - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - London Philharmonic Orchestra - Philharmonia - BBC Symphony Orchestra

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