London Symphony Orchestra

Biography

The LSO was founded in 1904 as an independent, self governing organization, the first such orchestra in the UK. It played its first concert on 9 June of that year, with Hans Richter conducting. He remained principal conductor until 1911, when Edward Elgar took over for a year, leading six concerts as principal conductor. More recently, its principal conductors have included Pierre Monteux (1961–64), Istvan Kertesz (1965–68), André Previn (1968–79) and Claudio Abbado (1979–88). From 1988-1995, the American Michael Tilson-Thomas took over, and in 1995, became principal guest conductor. Read more about London Symphony Orchestra on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.

Latest on London Symphony Orchestra

Russian conductor Valery Gergiev denies supporting anti-gay legislation

London Symphony Orchestra's principal conductor issues statement following gay rights protests in London and New York
Gergiev's credibility has been shot to pieces

Can - and should - we distinguish between Gergiev's political and artistic beliefs? I don't think we can anymore, writes Philip Clark
Gay rights protesters to picket LSO's pro-Putin conductor Valery Gergiev

Activist Peter Tatchell urges Gergiev to speak out over Russia's new homophobic laws but orchestra distances itself from outcry
Derry artists fear triumphal gains from City of Culture title will be squandered

The past year has been transformative for Derry but many see a lack of vision and ambition as threatening its arts legacy
LSO/Haitink – review

The monstrosity of Shostakovich's Fourth Symphony wasn't quite captured but a Mozart piano concerto was extraordinary, writes Tim Ashley
LSO/Noseda/Lugansky – review

Nikolai Lugansky found depth and nuance in a sensational performance of Prokofiev's Third Piano Concerto, writes Erica Jeal
LSO/Ticciati/Uchida – review

The orchestra was a touch heavy-handed and the compositions a touch overdone, but Mitsuko Uchida was superb as ever, writes Erica Jeal
Rigoletto – review

High-voltage intensity and fierce insight powered this superb concert performance of Verdi's masterpiece, writes Tim Ashley
Prom 41: LSO/Gergiev – review

Valery Gergiev serves up a stunning performance of Sofia Gubaidulina's The Rider on the White Horse and a vivid Pictures at an Exhibition, writes Martin Kettle
Hugh Maguire obituary

Violinist and teacher who was leader of the London Symphony and BBC Symphony orchestras