London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of the five permanent symphony orchestras based in London, England. It was founded in 1932 by conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent as a rival to the existing London Symphony and BBC Symphony Orchestras, with the ambition of creating an ensemble that could match the quality of any European or American counterpart. The LPO quickly achieved this goal and was widely recognized for its excellence between its founding and the onset of the Second World War.
After the war, the orchestra faced challenges from new rivals but regained its high standards by the 1960s. In 1964, the LPO secured an engagement with the Glyndebourne Festival and became the resident orchestra of the Royal Festival Hall in 1993, a position it shares with the Philharmonia. The orchestra also performs regularly at other venues and tours both nationally and internationally.
Throughout its history, the LPO has been led by ten principal conductors, including notable figures such as Sir Adrian Boult, Bernard Haitink, and Klaus Tennstedt. The orchestra has a rich recording history, working with labels like EMI, Decca, Philips, and RCA, and has been involved in numerous film soundtracks, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Since 2005, the LPO has operated its own record label, releasing live concert recordings.
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