It is remarkable to think that the musical phenomenon we now know as the BBC Philharmonic began life as a twelve-piece orchestra playing for a radio station called 2ZY on the Trafford Park Industrial Estate, Manchester in 1922. The orchestra was quickly expanded however and sufficient forces gathered to give the first broadcast performances of, for example, Holst's The Planets and Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius.
After a short period as the Northern Wireless Orchestra, the BBC Northern Orchestra, which was to become the BBC Northern Symphony Orchestra, was born and held its own for decades against constant threats of disbandment until 1982 when it was expanded and triumphantly renamed the BBC Philharmonic.
Still based in Manchester, the orchestra has built a formidable reputation under its Principal Conductor, Yan Pascal Tortelier, for outstanding quality and committed performances over an immensely wide range of repertoire. Vassily Sinaisky is the Orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor, and Sir Edward Downes (who was Principal Conductor from 1980-1991) is Conductor Emeritus.
The orchestra enjoys particular fame for its performance of contemporary music and has performed under the direction of a number of eminent composers including Berio, Copland, Penderecki, Tippett and Walton. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies accepted the position of composer/conductor with the orchestra in July 1992.
A special feature of the orchestra is its presence at the Proms where it takes on an impressive range of music and conductors in what is one of the world's most important and popular music festivals.
The BBC Philharmonic has also recently enhanced its international reputation with visits to the Far East and both North and South America.
During the next twelve months it will be performing in Holland, France, Czech Republic (at the Prague Spring Festival), Switzerland, Germany and Greece.
For Naxos, the orchestra has recorded numerous works by Dvorak as well as many great symphonies by Elgar and Miaskovsky.
July 2001
