BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
The BBC Philharmonic, based in the city of Salford in northern England's Greater Manchester county, is one of the most important orchestras in the United Kingdom, distinguishing itself by its sheer visibility and solid commitment to contemporary British music that has included the establishment of a composer/conductor position. Its home concert venue is Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. The people of the Manchester area and the north of England are rightly proud of their radio orchestra. With so much British culture and finance administered in London, there is an independent spirit driving the culture of the north. The BBC Philharmonic has not only survived, but it has thrived. It has developed a character distinct from that of the larger BBC Symphony Orchestra, based in London: more populist, perhaps, but also more adventurous and -- with the orchestra's large recording catalog, generous outreach programs, and international tours -- more entrepreneurial.
The BBC Philharmonic's history is rather checkered, for it has had to endure numerous crises. In 1922, prior to the official establishment of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Manchester had a radio station known as 2YZ, housed on the premises of the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Company. Early on, a small orchestra was established for broadcasts; it concentrated mainly on light music but expanded on occasion for performances of symphonic repertoire and opera. The station gained a reputation for broadcasting British music, including the first radio performances of music by Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, and William Walton. When the BBC was established in 1927, the 2YZ orchestra was renamed the Northern Wireless Orchestra; later, it became the BBC Northern Orchestra. Its existence was always precarious, but the group's size and repertoire increased. During World War II, the orchestra gave concerts in various communities around the region, bringing it to a wider public. The BBC Northern Orchestra continued to gain a strong reputation for performing and broadcasting British music, particularly works by living composers who were often invited to conduct the orchestra.
In 1961, the BBC Northern Orchestra made its first appearance at the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts under the direction of George Hurst. The regional identity of the ensemble began from that point to evolve into a national and international one. After a difficult strike in 1980, the BBC committed to supporting a full orchestra in Manchester, and in 1982, the ensemble was given its current name. Its principal conductor at that time was Edward Downes, who was succeeded in 1991 by Yan Pascal Tortelier. The ensemble's reputation for adventurous programming has expanded to an international scope as well, as composers from various countries have come to conduct the orchestra.
In 1991, the post of composer/conductor was created, with Peter Maxwell Davies being the first appointment. Davies composed several works for the orchestra, including several symphonies culminating with Symphony No. 7, which premiered in 2000. Along the way, he has also recorded a number of his orchestral works for release. Composer James MacMillan was named his successor in 2001. The following year, Gianandrea Noseda was named principal conductor (the title changed to chief conductor in 2006). HK Gruber followed MacMillan as composer/conductor in 2009. In 2011, Noseda was named conductor laureate, and Juanjo Mena became the chief conductor. In 2015, the BBC Philharmonic changed the title of the composer/conductor role to composer in association and appointed Mark Simpson to the position. Mena served as chief conductor until 2018, and Omer Meir Wellber, following a successful guest conductor performance, assumed the chief conductor position in 2019. John Storgårds was named the orchestra's new chief conductor in 2023 after serving as chief guest conductor since 2017.
The BBC Philharmonic has a vast recording catalog comprising hundreds of albums, with the majority of them being on the Chandos label. It has also recorded for Naxos and Albany, among many other labels. In 2023, under conductor Rumon Gamba, it was heard on a recording of orchestral music by Malcolm Arnold, which also featured clarinetist Michael Collins, on the Chandos label.
© James Harley & Keith Finke /TiVo
-
Arriaga: Symphony, Herminie, etc.
Juanjo Mena, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Berit Norbakken Solset
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 févr. 2019
5 de Diapason24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
MYASKOVSKY: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Edward Downes
Classique - Paru chez Marco-Polo le 17 déc. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Pierne: Piano Concerto in C minor, Op. 12 / Ramuntcho Suites Nos. 1 and 2
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Juanjo Mena, Juan Jose Mena
Classique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 janv. 2011
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Karen Geoghegan Plays Works for Bassoon and Orchestra
Gianandrea Noseda, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Karen Geoghegan
Musique de chambre - Paru chez Chandos le 1 oct. 2010
5 de Diapason24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dohnányi: Orchestral Works
Matthias Bamert, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, James Ehnes, Howard Shelley, Clifford Lantaff
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 juin 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Antheil : Symphonies Nos. 3 & 6 & Other Works
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Musique symphonique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 janv. 2019
5 de Diapason24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Antheil: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, John Storgårds
Musique symphonique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 mai 2017
4 étoiles Classica5 de DiapasonGramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Symphonic Euphonium II
David Childs, Ben Gernon, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Musique concertante - Paru chez Chandos le 1 nov. 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Smetana, B.: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 - Richard Iii / Wallenstein's Camp / Hakon Jarl / The Prague Carnival
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda
Musique symphonique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 sept. 2007
4 étoiles du Monde de la Musique5 de Diapason24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Concerto pour violon n° 2 - Concerto pour harpe - Concerto pour piano n° 2
James Ehnes, Clifford Lantaff, Howard Shelley, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Matthias Bamert
Concertos pour violon - Paru chez Chandos le 1 sept. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Turina: Canto a Sevilla
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Martin Roscoe, Maria Espada, Juanjo Mena
Classique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 juin 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Respighi: Rossiniana / Burlesca / Preludio, Corale E Fuga / Rachmaninov - 5 Etudes-Tableaux
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda
Musique symphonique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 nov. 2006
4 étoiles du Monde de la Musique5 de Diapason24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Italian Intermezzo
Gianandrea Noseda, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 janv. 2011
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Orchestral Transcriptions
Matthias Bamert, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 mai 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schreker: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1
Vassily Sinaisky, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 janv. 2000
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Christmas with Kiri Te Kanawa. Carols from Coventry Cathedral
Kiri Te Kanawa, Robin Stapleton, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Musique chorale (pour chœur) - Paru chez Warner Classics International le 1 mars 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rachmaninov : Symphonie n°2 - The Rock
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Gianandrea Noseda
Musique symphonique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 mars 2010
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stokowski Encores
Matthias Bamert, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 mars 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Takemitsu: Spectral Canticle
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Christian Karlsen
Classique - Paru chez BIS le 5 mai 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
ARNOLD, M.: Overtures
Kathy Jones, Helena Miles, Chris Hoyle, Fiona Macintosh, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Rumon Gamba
Musique symphonique - Paru chez Chandos le 1 mars 2005
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stokowski's Symphonic Baroque
Matthias Bamert, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra
Symphonies - Paru chez Chandos le 1 oct. 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo