100 years
Established June 9 1904
e: kcardy@lso.co.uk
How it all began?
A group of London?s finest orchestral players decided to ?do it for themselves? and formed the LSO, the UK?s first self-governing orchestra, booking Hans Richter to conduct. Over the next 100 years Principal Conductors included Nikisch, Elgar, Monteux, Kertesz, Krips, Previn, Abbado, Tilson Thomas and Davis.
Pivotal moments
? 1912 ? first European orchestra to tour USA. Narrowly missed travelling on Titanic and gave 28 concerts in 22 days.
? 1971 ? Andre Previn?s ?Music Night? takes the LSO to a mass TV audience
? 2003 ? LSO St Luke?s education and technology centre opens
The organisation today
Arguably one of the top 5 orchestras in the world, the LSO runs several successful operations besides concert giving; LSO Discovery, an education and community programme, LSO St Luke?s, an education and technology centre, and LSO Live, a leading orchestral CD label.
A big thank you to?
? The Corporation of London ? for giving the LSO its first permanent home at the Barbican in 1982
? Sir Colin Davis ? for leading the LSO into the 21st century with his Grammy award-winning recording of Berlioz?s ?The Trojans?
? Arts Council England ? for co-funding LSO St Luke?s, the UBS and LSO music education centre
Celebration events planned
? Lord Mayor?s 2004 appeal ?Music and the Arts for everyone? in aid of LSO Discovery
? March 2004 ? 3-week tour of the Far East with Colin Davis and Daniel Harding, including a first visit to China
? Centenary gala concerts on April 27 in New York and June 9 at the Barbican.