Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra is a non-professional orchestra
based in Birmingham
, England
.
in 1941, when a group of musicians gathered to perform Handel
's Messiah
. The group carried on and grew to become the South Birmingham Orchestra, performing concerts to support wartime charities. By 1946, David Ludlow had become the orchestra's conductor, and the present name was adopted in 1949.
Kenneth Page, the longest-serving conductor of the BPO to date, took charge from 1959 after David Ludlow's death. From this point the repertoire became more adventurous and ambitious, with performing standards having to improve to keep step. The high point of this period was a performance of Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand at the Royal Albert Hall
in 1984. In 1986, Kenneth Page resigned as conductor and was succeeded by Robin Page
(no relation), who did much to maintain the already high standard that had been attained. He was succeeded in 1994 by Michael Lloyd of English National Opera
, who is the current Music Director.
The BPO typically performs 12-15 concerts each year in Birmingham and the surrounding area. Guest conductors and professional soloists are also engaged on a regular basis, and a professional leader is usually engaged. Strong links are maintained with the Birmingham Conservatoire, where the orchestra rehearses and performs, and with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
based in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
History
The orchestra was founded by Ernest PowellErnest Powell
Ernest Ormsby Powell was an English cricketer. Powell was a right-handed batsman.-Life:Powell was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. He made his first-class debut for Surrey in 1882 against the Middlesex...
in 1941, when a group of musicians gathered to perform Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
. The group carried on and grew to become the South Birmingham Orchestra, performing concerts to support wartime charities. By 1946, David Ludlow had become the orchestra's conductor, and the present name was adopted in 1949.
Kenneth Page, the longest-serving conductor of the BPO to date, took charge from 1959 after David Ludlow's death. From this point the repertoire became more adventurous and ambitious, with performing standards having to improve to keep step. The high point of this period was a performance of Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
in 1984. In 1986, Kenneth Page resigned as conductor and was succeeded by Robin Page
Robin Page
Robin Page is a painter. He was one of the early members of the Fluxus art movement.-Biography:Page was born in England in 1932. His father, Peter Carter-Page, was a humorist and cartoonist who worked as an animator at the Disney studios in Hollywood in the 1930’s. The family moved to Canada...
(no relation), who did much to maintain the already high standard that had been attained. He was succeeded in 1994 by Michael Lloyd of English National Opera
English National Opera
English National Opera is an opera company based in London, resident at the London Coliseum in St. Martin's Lane. It is one of the two principal opera companies in London, along with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden...
, who is the current Music Director.
The BPO typically performs 12-15 concerts each year in Birmingham and the surrounding area. Guest conductors and professional soloists are also engaged on a regular basis, and a professional leader is usually engaged. Strong links are maintained with the Birmingham Conservatoire, where the orchestra rehearses and performs, and with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. The Orchestra's current chief executive, appointed in 1999, is Stephen Maddock...
.
Music Directors
- David Ludlow (1949–1959)
- Kenneth Page (1959–1986)
- Robin Page (1986–1994)
- Michael Lloyd (1994- )
Patrons
- Sir Adrian Boult (1960–1983)
- Sir Malcolm Arnold (1983–2006)
- Peter Donohoe (2007- )