The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British concert orchestra based in London, one of the British Broadcasting Corporation's five radio orchestras. With around fifty players, it is the only one of the five BBC orchestras which is not a full-scale symphony orchestra. The BBC Concert Orchestra is the BBC's most populist ensemble, playing a mixture of classical music, light music and popular numbers. Its primary role is to produce music for radio broadcast, and it is the resident orchestra of the world's longest running live music programme, Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 2.
The parent ensemble of the orchestra was the BBC Theatre Orchestra, which was formed in 1931 and based in Bedford. The orchestra also did opera work and was occasionally billed as the BBC Opera Orchestra. Stanford Robinson was the principal conductor from 1931 until 1946, but others included Walter Goehr, Spike Hughes, Harold Lowe, Mark Lubbock and Lionel Salter. In August 1949, the ensemble was formally renamed the BBC Opera Orchestra. In January 1952, the BBC Opera Orchestra was disbanded and the BBC Concert Orchestra was formed from its players.
The Proms
Until 1972, the orchestra was based at the Camden Theatre. From 1972 to 2004, the orchestra performed regularly at the Golders Green Hippodrome. It also appears regularly at the Royal Festival Hall and The Proms in London, as well as venues around the United Kingdom. As well as its performances on BBC Radio 2, it also performs on BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms and was a core part of the BBC's Electric Proms, now discontinued. As well as light classical music, it also plays pop music, jazz, opera, operetta and much of the popular repertoire previously the mainstay of the disbanded BBC Radio Orchestra. It links, from time to time, with the BBC Big Band for concerts and broadcasts.
Gilbert Vinter served as its first principal conductor. Barry Wordsworth, principal conductor from 1989 to 2006, now holds the title of Conductor Laureate. In August 2010, the orchestra announced the simultaneous appointments of Keith Lockhart as its seventh principal conductor, with immediate effect, and of Johannes Wildner as principal guest conductor.[1][2] Lockhart concluded his principal conductorship of the orchestra at the end of 2017, and now has the title of chief guest conductor, effective January 2018. In November 2017, the orchestra announced the appointment of Bramwell Tovey as its next principal conductor, effective January 2018, with an initial contract of five years.[3] Tovey served as principal conductor until his death on 12 July 2022.[4] In November 2019, the BBC CO announced the appointment of Anna-Maria Helsing as its next principal guest conductor,[5] the first female conductor ever named to the post, and the third female conductor to be named to a titled post with a BBC orchestra.
Composers who have been affiliated with the orchestra have included Anne Dudley and Jonny Greenwood, who was named the orchestra's composer-in-association in 2004.[6] In January 2013, the orchestra announced the appointment of Guy Barker as its new Associate Composer, replacing Greenwood, with an initial contract of two years.[7] In 2017, Dobrinka Tabakova was appointed as the BBC CO's new Composer-in-Residence.[8]
The orchestra has recorded commercially for the NMC Recordings label.[9]
^"Conductor Keith Lockhart joins BBC Concert Orchestra". BBC. 4 August 2010. from the original on 5 August 2010. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
^"BBC Concert Orchestra appoints Keith Lockhart". Gramophone. 3 August 2010. from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
^Martin Cullingford (21 November 2017). "BBC Concert Orchestra names new Principal Conductor". Gramophone. from the original on 21 November 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
^"Tributes to Bramwell Tovey, Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
^"Anna-Maria Helsing takes post at BBC Concert Orchestra". Gramophone. 20 November 2019. from the original on 22 November 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
^Tom Service (22 March 2005). "'I'm going to drive everyone slightly crazy'". The Guardian. from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
^"Guy Barker joins the BBC Concert Orchestra as Associate Composer" (Press release). BBC. 28 January 2013. from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
^"BBC Concert Orchestra announces Dobrinka Tabakova as new Composer In Residence". BBC. 27 January 2017. from the original on 29 January 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
^Andrew Clements (20 June 2008). "Cutler: Bartlebooth; Archie; Sal's Sax; Music for Cello and Strings; etc, Leonard/ Orkest de Ereprijs/ Fidelio Trio/ Dullea/ BBC Concert Orchestra/ Hazlewood". The Guardian. from the original on 16 September 2015. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
External links
Official website of the BBC Concert Orchestra
March 29, 2023
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The BBC Concert Orchestra is a British concert orchestra based in London one of the British Broadcasting Corporation s five radio orchestras With around fifty players it is the only one of the five BBC orchestras which is not a full scale symphony orchestra The BBC Concert Orchestra is the BBC s most populist ensemble playing a mixture of classical music light music and popular numbers Its primary role is to produce music for radio broadcast and it is the resident orchestra of the world s longest running live music programme Friday Night is Music Night on BBC Radio 2 BBC Concert OrchestraOrchestraShort nameBBC COFormer nameBBC Theatre Orchestra 1931 BBC Opera Orchestra 1949 Founded1952 71 years ago 1952 LocationLondon United KingdomPrincipal conductorAnna Maria Helsing guest Websitewww wbr bbc wbr co wbr uk wbr concertorchestra Contents 1 History 1 1 The Proms 2 Principal conductors 3 References 4 External linksHistory EditThe parent ensemble of the orchestra was the BBC Theatre Orchestra which was formed in 1931 and based in Bedford The orchestra also did opera work and was occasionally billed as the BBC Opera Orchestra Stanford Robinson was the principal conductor from 1931 until 1946 but others included Walter Goehr Spike Hughes Harold Lowe Mark Lubbock and Lionel Salter In August 1949 the ensemble was formally renamed the BBC Opera Orchestra In January 1952 the BBC Opera Orchestra was disbanded and the BBC Concert Orchestra was formed from its players The Proms Edit Until 1972 the orchestra was based at the Camden Theatre From 1972 to 2004 the orchestra performed regularly at the Golders Green Hippodrome It also appears regularly at the Royal Festival Hall and The Proms in London as well as venues around the United Kingdom As well as its performances on BBC Radio 2 it also performs on BBC Radio 3 and the BBC Proms and was a core part of the BBC s Electric Proms now discontinued As well as light classical music it also plays pop music jazz opera operetta and much of the popular repertoire previously the mainstay of the disbanded BBC Radio Orchestra It links from time to time with the BBC Big Band for concerts and broadcasts Gilbert Vinter served as its first principal conductor Barry Wordsworth principal conductor from 1989 to 2006 now holds the title of Conductor Laureate In August 2010 the orchestra announced the simultaneous appointments of Keith Lockhart as its seventh principal conductor with immediate effect and of Johannes Wildner as principal guest conductor 1 2 Lockhart concluded his principal conductorship of the orchestra at the end of 2017 and now has the title of chief guest conductor effective January 2018 In November 2017 the orchestra announced the appointment of Bramwell Tovey as its next principal conductor effective January 2018 with an initial contract of five years 3 Tovey served as principal conductor until his death on 12 July 2022 4 In November 2019 the BBC CO announced the appointment of Anna Maria Helsing as its next principal guest conductor 5 the first female conductor ever named to the post and the third female conductor to be named to a titled post with a BBC orchestra Composers who have been affiliated with the orchestra have included Anne Dudley and Jonny Greenwood who was named the orchestra s composer in association in 2004 6 In January 2013 the orchestra announced the appointment of Guy Barker as its new Associate Composer replacing Greenwood with an initial contract of two years 7 In 2017 Dobrinka Tabakova was appointed as the BBC CO s new Composer in Residence 8 The orchestra has recorded commercially for the NMC Recordings label 9 Principal conductors EditGilbert Vinter 1952 1953 Charles Mackerras 1954 1956 Vilem Tausky 1956 1966 Marcus Dods 1966 1970 Ashley Lawrence 1970 1989 Barry Wordsworth 1989 2006 Keith Lockhart 2010 2017 Bramwell Tovey 2018 2022 References Edit Conductor Keith Lockhart joins BBC Concert Orchestra BBC 4 August 2010 Archived from the original on 5 August 2010 Retrieved 5 August 2010 BBC Concert Orchestra appoints Keith Lockhart Gramophone 3 August 2010 Archived from the original on 12 June 2011 Retrieved 5 August 2010 Martin Cullingford 21 November 2017 BBC Concert Orchestra names new Principal Conductor Gramophone Archived from the original on 21 November 2017 Retrieved 23 November 2017 Tributes to Bramwell Tovey Principal Conductor of the BBC Concert Orchestra Press release BBC Media Centre 13 July 2022 Retrieved 13 July 2022 Anna Maria Helsing takes post at BBC Concert Orchestra Gramophone 20 November 2019 Archived from the original on 22 November 2019 Retrieved 24 November 2019 Tom Service 22 March 2005 I m going to drive everyone slightly crazy The Guardian Archived from the original on 25 October 2014 Retrieved 10 October 2009 Guy Barker joins the BBC Concert Orchestra as Associate Composer Press release BBC 28 January 2013 Archived from the original on 26 March 2013 Retrieved 14 February 2013 BBC Concert Orchestra announces Dobrinka Tabakova as new Composer In Residence BBC 27 January 2017 Archived from the original on 29 January 2017 Retrieved 29 January 2017 Andrew Clements 20 June 2008 Cutler Bartlebooth Archie Sal s Sax Music for Cello and Strings etc Leonard Orkest de Ereprijs Fidelio Trio Dullea BBC Concert Orchestra Hazlewood The Guardian Archived from the original on 16 September 2015 Retrieved 10 October 2009 External links EditOfficial website of the BBC Concert Orchestra Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title BBC Concert Orchestra amp oldid 1146426060, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
