New Philharmonia Orchestra
The New Philharmonia Orchestra had an unusual history, as one might suspect from the 13-year span listed in the headnote. Yet, these vital dates are quite misleading: the orchestra did not actually come into being in 1964 as a new ensemble and then disband in 1977, never to be heard from again. The orchestra was originally founded by Walter Legge in 1945, but under the name Philharmonia Orchestra. Legge was an executive with EMI Records and controlled the ensemble in its first two decades. When he realized in 1964 he would likely be unable to run the orchestra as he desired, owing to a reduced recording schedule and other circumstances beyond his reach, he suggested disbandment. In response, members of the Philharmonia re-formed the orchestra that year, adopted the name New Philharmonia Orchestra, and decided to retain their conductor, the renowned 79-year-old Otto Klemperer. In effect, the ensemble remained the same world-class group it had been in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but without the guidance and control of Legge. A trust fund was established to aid the NPO and the London Orchestral Concert Board offered financial support for concerts at home. The New Philharmonia also began recording with labels other than EMI and thus, drawing from these various sources of income, garnered sufficient monies not only to meet expenses but fund a tour of South America in 1965. In general, the ensemble retained its high ranking throughout the 1960s as being what many considered the finest orchestra in the United Kingdom. In 1971, Klemperer retired and the young American conductor Lorin Maazel was named his successor. Maazel's more energetic style and greater intensity did not fit in well with the sensibilities of orchestra members and as a result, performance standards declined. Riccardo Muti succeeded him in 1973 and quickly became a popular figure with both audience and critics alike. He expanded the repertory and drew more consistent playing from the ensemble. In 1977, the orchestra decided to revert to its founding name, the Philharmonia, or Philharmonia Orchestra. During its 13 years, the NPO made many memorable recordings, including Klemperer's accounts of Mozart's Symphony No. 29 and Così fan tutte overture, Maazel's A German Requiem by Brahms, and Muti's rendition of Verdi's Macbeth.
© TiVo
Similar artists
-
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Léopold Stokowski
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 20 Apr 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Stokowski Edition, Vol. IX: Vivaldi
Léopold Stokowski, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Hugh Bean
Classical - Released by Urania Records on 7 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Xenakis: Synaphai; Aroura; Antikhthon
Elgar Howarth, New Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 11 Jul 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Love Live Forever (The Romance of Musical Comedy)
Dame Joan Sutherland, Richard Bonynge, Alexander Faris, New Philharmonia Orchestra
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 18 Mar 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Handel: Overtures
English Chamber Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Raymond Leppard
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 3
Israela Margalit, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Lorin Maazel
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1972
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Klemperer: Own Compositions, Vol. 2 (Symphonies) (Otto Klemperer)
Philharmonia Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Otto Klemperer
Classical - Released by Archiphon on 1 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 3 (Live)
Emil Gilels, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult
Classical - Released by Ica Classics on 1 Feb 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Legends - Debussy
Classical - Released by GR8 Media (Hong Kong) Ltd on 1 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tchaikovsky: Suite No.3
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Antal Doráti
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Complete Works for Violin and Orchestra
Henryk Szeryng, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Alexander Gibson
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 2 Nov 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classical Legends - Ravel
Classical - Released by GR8Media (Hong Kong) Ltd on 1 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo