London Symphony Orchestra

The London Symphony Orchestra (frequently abbreviated to LSO) is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. Since 1982 it has been based in London's Barbican Centre.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - 1982 - London - Barbican Centre

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It was founded in 1904 as an independent, self governing organization, the first such orchestra in the U.K. It played its first concert on June 9 of that year, with Hans Richter conducting. He remained principal conductor until 1911, when Edward Elgar took over for a year.

Related Topics:
1904 - Hans Richter - 1911 - Edward Elgar

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More recently, its principal conductors have included Pierre Monteux (1961-64), Istvan Kertesz (1965-68), André Previn (1968-79) and Claudio Abbado (1979-88). In 1988, the American Michael Tilson-Thomas took over, and in 1995, he was replaced by Sir Colin Davis, with Tilson Thomas becoming principal guest conductor.

Related Topics:
Pierre Monteux - 1961 - Istvan Kertesz - 1965 - André Previn - 1968 - Claudio Abbado - 1979 - 1988 - Michael Tilson-Thomas - 1995 - Sir Colin Davis

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The LSO became the first British orchestra to play overseas when it went to Paris in 1906. The LSO was due to sail on the RMS Titanic for a concert in New York in April 12 but fortunately had to change the booking at the last minute. It was also the first to play in the United States, in 1912, and in 1973 it was the first to be invited to take part in the Salzburg Festival. It continues to make tours around the world.

Related Topics:
Paris - 1906 - RMS Titanic - United States - 1912 - 1973 - Salzburg Festival

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The LSO has long been considered the most extroverted of the London orchestras. There is an air of youthful high spirits to much of its music-making that is shown off in performances of such composers as Berlioz and Prokofiev. The LSO has often had internationally known players as wind soloists, including such stars as James Galway (flute), Gervase de Peyer (clarinet), and Barry Tuckwell (horn). Like most ensembles, the orchestra has a great ability to vary its sound, producing very different tone colors under such diverse conductors as Stokowski (with whom it made a series of memorable recordings), Boult, Horenstein, Solti, Previn, Szell, Abbado, Bernstein, and Barbirolli, not to mention Karl Böhm, who developed a close relationship with the orchestra late in his life.

Related Topics:
Berlioz - Prokofiev - James Galway - Gervase de Peyer - Barry Tuckwell - Stokowski - Boult - Horenstein - Solti - Previn - Szell - Abbado - Bernstein - Barbirolli - Karl Böhm

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The LSO has also been famous for recording many motion picture scores through the decades, including all the Star Wars films (with Maurice Murphy playing the main trumpet theme in five of the films), Braveheart, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Superman. It has also performed on many pop recordings, including The Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Related Topics:
Star Wars - Braveheart - Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Raiders of the Lost Ark - Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Superman - The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

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

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

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