BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

The 2ZY Orchestra was formed in 1922 for a Manchester radio station of the same name. It gave the first broadcast performances of many famous English works, including Elgar's Dream of Gerontius and Enigma Variations and Holst's The Planets.

When the BBC Symphony Orchestra was established in London in 1930, the new Corporation cut its regional orchestras' funding.

Three years later, however, the BBC reversed its decision and maintained a full orchestra again - since 1934 it was called the BBC Northern Orchestra. This was the beginning of the orchestra in its present form.

The orchestra played at its first Prom in 1961, and enjoyed popularity with performances at the Free Trade Hall, a venue it shared with the Hallé.

In 1982, the orchestra received a vote of confidence from the BBC, who expanded the orchestra and changed its name to the BBC Philharmonic.

Since 1996, Vassily Sinaisky has served as the orchestra's principal guest conductor. Sinaisky is scheduled to relinquish the principal guest conductorship of the orchestra in January 2012 and to take the title of conductor emeritus. In March 2011, the orchestra announced the appointment of John Storgårds as its next principal guest conductor, effective January 2012.

Like all BBC performing groups, the orchestra contributes to the schedule of Radio 3, recording at Studio 7 of New Broadcasting House on Oxford Road, Manchester. Since 1996, most of the orchestra's live performances have been at the city's Bridgewater Hall, although it frequently tours the UK and internationally.

Anecdotally, the 'BBC Phil' is known as the most adventurous of the BBC orchestras, and has a younger demographic of players. It has always embraced contemporary composers, working with Copland, Walton and Berio amongst others. Whilst not having a formal "composer in residence", since 1991, the orchestra has appointed major composers to collaborate in programs of contemporary music, including Peter Maxwell Davies, James MacMillan, and HK Gruber. In more recent years, the orchestra has collaborated with BBC Radio One in producing orchestral performance with modern artists, including symphonies with bands Nero and The xx.

The BBC Philharmonic has made over 150 recordings, and for the most part, it has steered clear of orchestral 'warhorses'. Series of British film music, the music of George Enescu, and Stokowski's Bach transcriptions have been featured, all on the Chandos label.
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