The London Repertoire Orchestra is a London-based rehearsal orchestra founded in 1955 (as The One Rehearsal Orchestra) by composer, conductor and oboist Ruth Gipps.[1] Inspired in part by Arthur Dennington's Modern Symphony Orchestra (which had given the premiere performance of Gipps' Oboe Concerto in its 1941–2 season[2]), and by Gwynne Kimpton's London Amateur Orchestra of World War 1, it was intended to provide opportunities for "students, young professionals and good amateurs" to become exposed to a wider range of music.[3] It also provided valuable experience with an orchestra for intending soloists to try through the concerto repertoire. Julian Lloyd Webber was one of those to benefit from this, and later (on 29 September 1972) he gave the first London performance of the Bliss Cello Concerto with Gipps conducting the Chanticleer Orchestra (which she also founded).[4][5]
The London Repertoire Orchestra name was first adopted in 1963.[6] Prince Philip visited the tenth anniversary rehearsal in 1965, requesting a programme of all British music.[7] The baton was passed from Gipps to Francis Griffin (a professional horn player and conductor) in 1986, and he served as musical director until 2009.[8] Today the orchestra does not have a permanent conductor, choosing to use a selection of regular freelance conductors and guests from a pool of professionals who would not be able to commit to a weekly rehearsal.
Since it was founded, the LRO has typically rehearsed a different work each week, normally finishing with a complete run-through. However, when playing for concerts the orchestra dedicates a full rehearsal session for each piece and has a full rehearsal on the day of the concert, including guest players. In its early days rehearsals were held at the International Musicians Association premises at 14 South Audley Street, then a somewhat notorious drinking club as well as a rehearsal space, frequented by writers and musicians including Kingsley Amis, John Dickson Carr Gerald Hoffnung, Bruce Montgomery and Malcolm Arnold[9][10]
But in 1958 the Inner London Education Authority recognised the growing reputation of the orchestra and offered an affiliation, providing a rehearsal space (the Salle Erard Hall, 18 Great Marlborough Street) and salaries for the conductor and leader.[11] By the 1980s, chamber rehearsals (on Wednesdays) and full orchestral (on Fridays) were being held at Kingsway College in Clerkenwell.[12] Today rehearsals take place at St Joseph's Church Hall, Lamb's Passage, London EC1 on Wednesday evenings during term times.
The orchestra is a registered charity. Members pay an annual subscription to join.
^Gipps, Ruth. "One Rehearsal Orchestra - Why?" in The Strad, June 1957, p 20.
^World premiere on 13. June 1942 with Marion Brough, oboe
^Musical Times, No 1347 (May 1955) p 233.
^"Obituary: Ruth Gipps". The Independent. March 3, 1999.
^"Bliss Cello Concerto". April 18, 2017.
^Musical Times, No 1448 (October 1963), p 718.
^"'Remarkable' story of Dr Ruth Gipps", The Times, 26 May 1967, p 9
^"LRO History – London Repertoire Orchestra". londonrepertoireorchestra.org.uk.
^Leader, Zachary (July 31, 2013). The Life of Kingsley Amis. Random House. ISBN 9781446418161 – via Google Books.
^Whittle, David (July 5, 2017). Bruce Montgomery/Edmund Crispin: A Life in Music and Books. Routledge. ISBN 9781351572972 – via Google Books.
^Halstead, Jill. Ruth Gipps: Anti-Modernism, Nationalism and Difference in English Music (2017)
^"Sounds Perfect", The Guardian, 26 February 1985, p 12
and 25 Related for: London Repertoire Orchestra information
The LondonRepertoireOrchestra is a London-based rehearsal orchestra founded in 1955 (as The One Rehearsal Orchestra) by composer, conductor and oboist...
chamber and choral works. She founded both the LondonRepertoireOrchestra and the Chanticleer Orchestra and served as conductor and music director for...
The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of five permanent symphony orchestras based in London. It was founded by the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham...
The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's symphony orchestras...
The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI. Among...
or Classical repertoire, such as that of Haydn and Mozart, tend to be smaller than orchestras performing a Romantic music repertoire such as the symphonies...
Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured...
The Modern Symphony Orchestra (sometimes called the Northern Polytechnic Modern Symphony Orchestra) was a London amateur orchestra that existed from 1931...
Most conductorless orchestras are smaller in size, and generally perform chamber orchestrarepertoire. Several conductorless orchestras are made up of only...
City of London Sinfonia (CLS) is an English chamber orchestra based in London. CLS is orchestra-in-residence at Opera Holland Park since 2004 and holds...
Symphony Orchestra (BBC SO) is a British orchestra based in London. Founded in 1930, it was the first permanent salaried orchestra in London, and is the...
Classical conductors work with orchestras, opera companies, ballet companies and choral groups. Conducting orchestras has been called a glass ceiling...
Philharmonic and NBC Symphony Orchestras. The records were credited to 'Leopold Stokowski and His Symphony Orchestra' and the repertoire ranged from Haydn (his...
The English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and their...
the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain playing the main theme of the Film. Problems playing this file? See media help. The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain...
Fields (ASMF) is an English chamber orchestra, based in London. John Churchill, then Master of Music at the London church of St Martin-in-the-Fields, and...
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) is a British period instrument orchestra. The OAE is a resident orchestra of the Southbank Centre, London...
known for his association with the London Symphony Orchestra, having first conducted it in 1959. His repertoire was broad, but among the composers with...
The Penguin Cafe Orchestra (PCO) were an avant-pop band led by English guitarist Simon Jeffes. Co-founded with cellist Helen Liebmann, the band toured...
Symphony Orchestra (French: Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, or OSM) is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The orchestra’s home...
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is a British orchestra based in Birmingham, England. It is the resident orchestra at Symphony Hall, Birmingham...
Guildhall / London College of Music Grade 8 Distinction, though it is not necessary to have taken any examinations. In 2011, the orchestra was shortlisted...
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) is an English orchestra, founded in 1893 and originally based in Bournemouth. With a remit to serve the South...
team from Beijing and Salzburg. The orchestra made its debut recording under the label Philips in 1978. Its repertoire includes Butterfly Lovers' Violin...
the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras. From...
Global Information