The London Repertoire Orchestra is a London-based rehearsal orchestra founded in 1955 (as The One Rehearsal Orchestra) by composer, conductor and oboist Ruth Gipps.[1] Inspired in part by Arthur Dennington's Modern Symphony Orchestra (which had given the premiere performance of Gipps' Oboe Concerto in its 1941–2 season[2]) it was intended to provide opportunities for "students, young professionals and good amateurs" to become exposed to a wider range of music.[3] It also provided valuable experience with an orchestra for intending soloists to try through the concerto repertoire. Julian Lloyd Webber was one of those to benefit from this, and later (on 29 September 1972) he gave the first London performance of the Bliss Cello Concerto with Gipps conducting the Chanticleer Orchestra (which she also founded).[4][5]
The London Repertoire Orchestra name was first adopted in 1963.[6]Prince Philip visited the tenth anniversary rehearsal in 1965, requesting a programme of all British music.[7] The baton was passed from Gipps to Francis Griffin (a professional horn player and conductor) in 1986, and he served as musical director until 2009.[8] Today the orchestra does not have a permanent conductor, choosing to use a selection of regular freelance conductors and guests from a pool of professionals who would not be able to commit to a weekly rehearsal.
Since it was founded, the LRO has typically rehearsed a different work each week, normally finishing with a complete run-through. However, when playing for concerts the orchestra dedicates a full rehearsal session for each piece and has a full rehearsal on the day of the concert, including guest players. In its early days rehearsals were held at the International Musicians Association premises at 14 South Audley Street, then a somewhat notorious drinking club as well as a rehearsal space, frequented by writers and musicians including Kingsley Amis, John Dickson CarrGerald Hoffnung, Bruce Montgomery and Malcolm Arnold[9][10]
But in 1958 the Inner London Education Authority recognised the growing reputation of the orchestra and offered an affiliation, providing a rehearsal space (the Salle Erard Hall, 18 Great Marlborough Street) and salaries for the conductor and leader.[11] By the 1980s, chamber rehearsals (on Wednesdays) and full orchestral (on Fridays) were being held at Kingsway College in Clerkenwell.[12] Today rehearsals take place at St Joseph's Church Hall, Lamb's Passage, London EC1 on Wednesday evenings during term times.
The orchestra is a registered charity. Members pay an annual subscription to join.
ReferencesEdit
^Gipps, Ruth. "One Rehearsal Orchestra - Why?" in The Strad, June 1957, p 20.
^World premiere on 13. June 1942 with Marion Brough, oboe
^"'Remarkable' story of Dr Ruth Gipps", The Times, 26 May 1967, p 9
^"LRO History – London Repertoire Orchestra". londonrepertoireorchestra.org.uk.
^Leader, Zachary (July 31, 2013). The Life of Kingsley Amis. Random House. ISBN9781446418161 – via Google Books.
^Whittle, David (July 5, 2017). Bruce Montgomery/Edmund Crispin: A Life in Music and Books. Routledge. ISBN9781351572972 – via Google Books.
^Halstead, Jill. Ruth Gipps: Anti-Modernism, Nationalism and Difference in English Music (2017)
^"Sounds Perfect", The Guardian, 26 February 1985, p 12
External linksEdit
London Repertoire Orchestra website
September 01, 2023
london, repertoire, orchestra, london, based, rehearsal, orchestra, founded, 1955, rehearsal, orchestra, composer, conductor, oboist, ruth, gipps, inspired, part, arthur, dennington, modern, symphony, orchestra, which, given, premiere, performance, gipps, oboe. The London Repertoire Orchestra is a London based rehearsal orchestra founded in 1955 as The One Rehearsal Orchestra by composer conductor and oboist Ruth Gipps 1 Inspired in part by Arthur Dennington s Modern Symphony Orchestra which had given the premiere performance of Gipps Oboe Concerto in its 1941 2 season 2 it was intended to provide opportunities for students young professionals and good amateurs to become exposed to a wider range of music 3 It also provided valuable experience with an orchestra for intending soloists to try through the concerto repertoire Julian Lloyd Webber was one of those to benefit from this and later on 29 September 1972 he gave the first London performance of the Bliss Cello Concerto with Gipps conducting the Chanticleer Orchestra which she also founded 4 5 The London Repertoire Orchestra name was first adopted in 1963 6 Prince Philip visited the tenth anniversary rehearsal in 1965 requesting a programme of all British music 7 The baton was passed from Gipps to Francis Griffin a professional horn player and conductor in 1986 and he served as musical director until 2009 8 Today the orchestra does not have a permanent conductor choosing to use a selection of regular freelance conductors and guests from a pool of professionals who would not be able to commit to a weekly rehearsal Since it was founded the LRO has typically rehearsed a different work each week normally finishing with a complete run through However when playing for concerts the orchestra dedicates a full rehearsal session for each piece and has a full rehearsal on the day of the concert including guest players In its early days rehearsals were held at the International Musicians Association premises at 14 South Audley Street then a somewhat notorious drinking club as well as a rehearsal space frequented by writers and musicians including Kingsley Amis John Dickson Carr Gerald Hoffnung Bruce Montgomery and Malcolm Arnold 9 10 But in 1958 the Inner London Education Authority recognised the growing reputation of the orchestra and offered an affiliation providing a rehearsal space the Salle Erard Hall 18 Great Marlborough Street and salaries for the conductor and leader 11 By the 1980s chamber rehearsals on Wednesdays and full orchestral on Fridays were being held at Kingsway College in Clerkenwell 12 Today rehearsals take place at St Joseph s Church Hall Lamb s Passage London EC1 on Wednesday evenings during term times The orchestra is a registered charity Members pay an annual subscription to join References Edit Gipps Ruth One Rehearsal Orchestra Why in The Strad June 1957 p 20 World premiere on 13 June 1942 with Marion Brough oboe Musical Times No 1347 May 1955 p 233 Obituary Ruth Gipps The Independent March 3 1999 Bliss Cello Concerto April 18 2017 Musical Times No 1448 October 1963 p 718 Remarkable story of Dr Ruth Gipps The Times 26 May 1967 p 9 LRO History London Repertoire Orchestra londonrepertoireorchestra org uk Leader Zachary July 31 2013 The Life of Kingsley Amis Random House ISBN 9781446418161 via Google Books Whittle David July 5 2017 Bruce Montgomery Edmund Crispin A Life in Music and Books Routledge ISBN 9781351572972 via Google Books Halstead Jill Ruth Gipps Anti Modernism Nationalism and Difference in English Music 2017 Sounds Perfect The Guardian 26 February 1985 p 12External links EditLondon Repertoire Orchestra website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title London Repertoire Orchestra amp oldid 1124623328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
