London Chamber Orchestra


The London Chamber Orchestra is the longest established professional chamber orchestra in the United Kingdom. Based in London, LCO has a residency at Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square and regularly tours Asia, the UK, Europe and the United States.

History

The London Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1921 by the English conductor, organist, pianist and composer Anthony Bernard. He conducted the LCO's first performance, in the salon of No. 4 St. James's Square on 11 May 1921.

Royal connection

LCO's patron is the Duchess of Cornwall. The LCO performed at Buckingham Palace at the invitation of the Prince of Wales in April 2006, and has performed for the Queen at Kew Palace.

Royal Wedding

In April 2011 it was announced that the London Chamber Orchestra would perform at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on 29 April 2011. The special programme of music was conducted by Christopher Warren-Green, who also conducted at the weddings of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Music played at the royal wedding was recorded and released digitally by Decca Records on 5 May 2011.

Performances

The LCO has given more than 100 UK premieres, including works by Malcolm Arnold, Manuel de Falla, Gabriel Fauré, Leoš Janáček, Maurice Ravel, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Igor Stravinsky, and, most recently, Graham Fitkin and James Francis Brown. In 2006 the LCO premiered Sir Peter Maxwell Davies's The Golden Rule, written to mark Queen Elizabeth's 80th birthday.
The LCO receives no grants and is not supported by any public body. Instead, the orchestra depends upon its audiences and on the support of corporate sponsors and donors. These include Omers PE, RWE Dea, and Lazard.

Music Junction

Established in 2010, Music Junction – the LCO's education and outreach programme – brings together children and young people from a range of backgrounds, engaging them in learning instruments and creative music in order to raise their confidence and self-esteem.

Direction

The London Chamber Orchestra's principal conductor, Christopher Warren-Green, has held the position of Music Director since 1988.
The President of the Orchestra is Vladimir Ashkenazy and Rosemary Warren-Green is Education & Outreach Artistic Director. The LCO receives no grants and is not supported by any public body. Instead, the orchestra depends upon its audiences and on the support of corporate sponsors and donors.

Discography

The LCO has been recorded by Virgin Records and BMG and has been broadcast by BBC Radio 3 and ITV.