English Chamber Orchestra
Tremendously versatile and musically polished, the English Chamber Orchestra is considered one of the most distinguished chamber orchestras in the world. Similar in musical philosophy and organization to the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the ensemble is financially self-supporting and has no permanent home venue. The orchestra presents an annual concert series in London and also tours internationally. Over its history, the ensemble has expanded its repertoire to include a wide range of chamber music from various musical periods and is flexible in size, ranging from 24 to 38 musicians. The English Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Neil Thomson, issued the recording Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra in 2022.
The English Chamber Orchestra was formed in 1948 by Arnold Goldsborough to perform Baroque music. Originally named the Goldsborough Orchestra, the ensemble changed its name to the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) in 1960 in accordance with the needs of the group's growing reputation. At the same time, the "English Chamber Orchestra and Music Society" charity was formed as the promotion arm of the organization. Like many other chamber orchestras, the ECO employs no full-time musicians but hires its players on a contract basis. This allows the orchestra to be flexible in size and structure according to the needs of its repertoire and concert venues and also gives the musicians the opportunity to work in a variety of other situations. The freedom this provides is key to the fresh approach this orchestra takes in its performances through its use of a system of co-principal groupings of players. Under this system, two principal players share each chair and are contracted to play a set number of performances in a given season.
The ECO has performed for numerous important occasions, including a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II at the Queen Elizabeth Hall inaugural concert in 1967. Other performances of note are the first color television recording of music for the BBC and the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales in 1981. The ensemble has been associated with the music of Benjamin Britten since it became the resident orchestra at the 1961 Aldeburgh Festival. The ECO has toured extensively, including tours throughout Europe, the U.S., and China.
Until 1985, the orchestra chose to work without a principal conductor, instead inviting a series of talented guest artists to lead the ensemble. The ECO has a reputation for giving young conductors important opportunities. Among those who have benefited from this policy are Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Barenboim, and Pinchas Zukerman. During the orchestra's Silver Anniversary celebration in 1985, it was announced that Jeffrey Tate had been chosen to fill the newly created position of principal conductor, and in 2000, he was succeeded by Ralf Gothóni. Paul Watkins has also served as music director, and Roy Goodman has served as the orchestra's principal guest conductor. Stephanie Gonley has been the orchestra's leader since 1997 and has also directed the orchestra from her violin.
The ECO can be heard on hundreds of recordings on all of the major labels, including a significant number on EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, and Sony, among others. The highlights for the ECO include three complete Mozart piano concerto cycles featuring Daniel Barenboim on EMI Classics, Mitsuko Uchida on Philips, and Murray Perahia on Sony Classical. In 2019, the ECO was led from the keyboard by Benjamin Hochman in a recording of Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 24, on Avie. More Mozart recordings followed in the early 2020s, and in 2022, conductor Neil Thomson led the ECO on the release Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra.
© Corie Stanton Root & Keith Finke /TiVo
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Handel: Judas Maccabaeus
English Chamber Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on 1 Jan 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos 17 & 24
Benjamin Hochman, English Chamber Orchestra
Concertos - Released by AVIE Records on 4 Oct 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bach: Violin Concertos & Double Concerto
Itzhak Perlman, Pinchas Zukerman, English Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 25 Oct 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák: Stabat Mater; Legends
Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks, English Chamber Orchestra, Rafael Kubelik
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Travels With My Cello
Julian Lloyd Webber, English Chamber Orchestra, Nicholas Cleobury
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Oct 1984
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto / Spohr: Clarinet Concerto No. 4
Thea King, English Chamber Orchestra
Classical - Released by Meridian Records on 4 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Carnaval! French Coloratura Arias
Sumi Jo, English Chamber Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1994
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3 & 5; Adagio K.261; Rondo K.373
Joshua Bell, English Chamber Orchestra, Peter Maag
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 5 Feb 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Clarinet Concerto; Concerto for Flute and Harp
Emma Johnson, William Bennett, Osian Ellis, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Grieg/Sibelius: Nordic Suites
English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Sir Neville Marriner, Philharmonia Orchestra, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Oboe Concertos Nos.1-3/Concerto Grosso "Alexander's Feast" etc.
Heinz Holliger, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1971
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antonio Vivaldi: Musique sacrée
Teresa Berganza, English Chamber Orchestra, Antoni Ros Marbà
Sacred Vocal Music - Released by Ensayo on 1 Jan 1975
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cimarosa: Il matrimonio segreto
English Chamber Orchestra, Daniel Barenboim
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1977
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vivaldi: Complete Bassoon Concertos
Daniel Smith, English Chamber Orchestra, Zagrebački Solisti
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The London Concert [Expanded Edition]
Classical - Released by Sony Classical - Legacy on 21 May 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Renée Fleming - The Beautiful Voice
Renée Fleming, English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Sep 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Donizetti : L'elisir d'amore
Roberto Alagna, Mariella Devia, English Chamber Orchestra, Marcello Viotti
Opera - Released by Warner Classics International on 1 Jun 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Giuliani & Vivaldi: Guitar Concertos
Eduardo Fernández, English Chamber Orchestra, George Malcolm
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Vaughan Williams: Serenade to Music, Flos Campi, 5 Mystical Songs, Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Corydon Singers, English Chamber Orchestra, Matthew Best
Classical - Released by Hyperion on 1 Sep 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.24 & 25
Mitsuko Uchida, English Chamber Orchestra, Jeffrey Tate
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pachelbel's Canon & Other Baroque Favorites
Classical - Released by Sony Classical on 1 May 1988
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo