The London Symphony Orchestra is the capital's longest-established orchestra and was the first in Britain to be self-governing. Founded in 1904, the Orchestra has attracted Principal Conductors of the highest international stature, including Hans Richter, Artur Nikisch and, more recently, André Previn and Claudio Abbado. Michael Tilson Thomas was Principal Conductor from 1988 and was succeeded in 1995 by Sir Colin Davis.
The LSO has made a number of recordings for Sony Classical, the most recent being John Williams' original soundtrack recording for George Lucas' prequel Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace (SK/ST/SM 61816), due to be released in conjunction with international film openings this summer. Other recent Sony Classical releases include Back to Titanic (SK/ST/SM 60691), the soundtrack to Spike Lee's film He Got Game (SK 60593), and Gershwin Fantasy (SK/ST/SM 60659) with violinist Joshua Bell.
Over recent years the LSO has established a unique reputation for excellence and innovation, including a policy of commissioning new works and giving world premières. This was recognised with the first ever Royal Philharmonic Society Orchestra Award and the Evening Standard's Classical Music Award for 'Outstanding Ensemble Performance' in two successive years.
Since taking up its residency in the City of London at the Barbican Centre in 1982, the LSO has pioneered the multi-disciplinary festivals which have become a central feature of London's cultural life. Recent critically acclaimed successes include "The Brahms Centenary", "Shostakovich 1906 - 1975", Pierre Boulez' and Mstislav Rostropovich's 70th Birthday series and the "Sibelius Cycle".
The LSO made its first tour, to the United States, in 1912 (just missing travelling on the Titanic), and has maintained its international reputation with regular tours ever since. Within the last year the LSO has travelled to the USA, Japan and Israel. The orchestra also regularly tours throughout Europe.
Concert-giving is just one part of the Orchestra's life: as well as recordings with the world's leading conductors and soloists and providing film soundtracks (including Star Wars, Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Braveheart), the LSO has a strong commitment to education work. This includes projects in primary, secondary and special needs schools. One recent project, Music Explorer, is a 90-minute video featuring the LSO and Sir Colin Davis with an accompanying book written by Richard McNicol, the LSO Music Animateur. It is designed to help teachers fulfil the listening and appraising elements of National Curriculum music, and is also intended to help parents and children listen to and understand music ranging from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons to Stravinsky's The Firebird Suite. Other projects include work in prisons, with elderly people in hospices, hospitals and day care centres throughout London and the Home Counties.
