Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society encyclopedia topics

History

The orchestra was founded as the Liverpool Philharmonic Society on January 10, 1840. It is one of the oldest concert-giving organisations in the world, and the second oldest in Britain. The society It was granted the title ‘Royal’ in 1957. The concerts were conducted from 1843 to 1865 by Jakob Zeugheer who was succeeded upon his death by Alfred Mellon. The orchestra was led in the 1960s by Sir Julius Benedict. For three years (1880-1883) the composer Max Bruch was principal conductor of the orchestra. He composed his Kol Nidre for cello and orchestra while in Liverpool, dedicating it to the Jewish community of the city. Since then, some of the most distinguished principal conductors of the orchestra have included Sir Henry Wood, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir John Pritchard and Sir Charles Groves.

In 1989, the RLPS and Orchestra received an Honorary Fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University, and in 1991 the RLPS was the first organisation to be granted the freedom of the City of Liverpool. A further honour of Meritorious Service was granted by the City of Liverpool in 1997. The RLPS also administers the Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir, Philharmonic Youth & Training Choirs, and the Community and Gospel Choir. The RLPS has supported contemporary music throughout its history and in 1994 appointed Graham Fitkin as the first Composer-In-Association to work with all the ensembles and with communities in Liverpool.

The orchestra has encountered fiscal troubles over the years, including a 2003 report of a pending large deficit. Around the start of Gerard Schwarz's tenure as principal conductor, the RLPO had a subsidy of GB£135,000. In addition, there were reports in 2004 of tension between Schwarz and the orchestra, and his contract was not renewed. In July 2005, the young Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko was named the RLPO's principal conductor. Since his 2006 advent to the post, the orchestra's situation has improved and their subsidy is now reported at around GB£1.3 million. In May 2007, the RLPO announced that Petrenko had extended his contract with the orchestra to 2012.

In addition to Petrenko, the orchestra continues to work with Carl Davis, Libor Pešek as conductor laureate, and Vernon Handley as conductor emeritus.

Although boasting a reputedly exquisite wind section, the orchestra is renowned for its silky strings.

Recordings and RPLO Live

As a recording orchestra the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra has a varied and critically acclaimed discography. In particular, Libor Pešek made a number of acclaimed recordings with the RLPO of Czech composers, including music of Antonín Dvořák and Josef Suk. The RLPO's catalogue also includes works by Beethoven, Britten, Mahler, Rachmaninov, Smetana, Strauss, and Vaughan Williams. Several recordings feature the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. A complete cycle of all six symphonies by the Danish composer Carl Nielsen, in a new edition, has been released by the RLPO and Douglas Bostock.

In 1998 the Orchestra launched its own recording label, RLPO Live. The initiative came from the musicians themselves, and each recording is made with the in-house recording company, Merseyside Sound Recordings. In January 2003, RLPO Live and Classico Records joined forces, and the RLPO's recordings are now able to reach international markets in a wide range of territories through Classico's distribution network.

Partnership with Classic FM

In November 2001, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Classic FM, a major classical music radio station in the UK, announced a new partnership which makes the RLPO Classic FM's "Orchestra in North West England". This relationship has been extended to 2009.