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The orchestra will be performing 12 times at the\u00a02024 BBC Proms<\/a><\/strong> under its principal conductor Sakari Oramo, among others \u2013 including on the First Night and Last Night. But who are the BBC Symphony Orchestra?<\/p> The BBC Symphony Orchestra<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0(BBC SO) is a British\u00a0orchestra<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0based in London, and one of the BBC\u2019s five orchestras \u2013 alongside the\u00a0BBC Philharmonic<\/strong><\/a>, BBC Concert Orchestra<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0BBC National Orchestra of Wales<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p> At the heart of British cultural life since it was founded in 1930, the orchestra plays a central role in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall<\/a><\/strong> in London, performing at the First and Last Nights, as well as throughout each Proms season.\u00a0<\/p> The BBC SO gives an annual season of concerts at the Barbican<\/a><\/strong> in London, as well, where it is associate orchestra.\u00a0<\/p> It has a special commitment to contemporary music, and premieres a number or works every season, in addition to devoting Total Immersion days to specific composers or themes, such as George Walker<\/a><\/strong> and Kaija Saariaho<\/a><\/strong> during the 2022-23 season. Previous Total Immersion composers have included John Cage<\/a><\/strong>, James MacMillan<\/a><\/strong>, Elliott Carter<\/a><\/strong>, Sofia Gubaidulina, Michael Tippett<\/a><\/strong>, George Benjamin<\/a><\/strong> and Thomas Ad\u00e8s<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p> The great majority of the BBC SO\u2019s performances are broadcast on BBC Radio 3<\/a><\/strong>, streamed online and are available for 30 days thereafter on BBC Sounds<\/a><\/strong> and iPlayer<\/a><\/strong>. Its studio recordings often feature up-and-coming talent, including members of BBC Radio 3\u2019s New Generation Artists<\/a><\/strong> scheme.\u00a0<\/p> The orchestra was founded in 1930 as the first permanently salaried orchestra in London.\u00a0<\/p> The idea was originally conceived by Sir Thomas Beecham<\/a><\/strong> in collaboration with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). Since its establishment in 1922, the BBC had broadcast with its own music ensembles, including the Wireless Orchestra. But when, in 1927, the corporation took responsibility for the Proms, Beecham decided that the BBC should have a permanent orchestra that could compete with the likes of the Berlin Philharmonic<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p> When Beecham withdrew from the project the next year, Adrian Boult \u2013 then director of music at the BBC \u2013 took charge of forming the orchestra, and charged violinist<\/a><\/strong> Albert Sammons and the violist Lionel Tertis to scout for new talent around the country. Although many of the principals were poached from the London Symphony Orchestra<\/a><\/strong> (LSO) and the Hall\u00e9<\/a><\/strong>, the majority of rank and file players were new graduates from music colleges.<\/p> The orchestra\u2019s former chief conductors are:<\/p> Sir Adrian Boult (1930\u201350) Finnish maestro Sakari Oramo is the BBC Symphony Orchestra\u2019s current chief conductor, a role he has held since 2013. Formerly a violinist and concertmaster of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Oramo was subsequently appointed co-principal conductor of the orchestra. Later he became principal conductor of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra<\/a><\/strong> and chief conductor and artistic advisor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra.<\/p> The BBC Symphony\u2019s principal guest conductor is Dalia Stasevska<\/a><\/strong>, while Semyon Bychkov<\/a><\/strong> is its G\u00fcnter Wand Conducting Chair.<\/p> The orchestra has two leaders: violinists Stephen Bryant and Igor Yuzefovich. Its sub-leader is Cellerina Park.<\/p> The orchestra appears annually at the BBC Proms in London\u2019s Royal Albert Hall and regularly at the Barbican, London, where it is orchestra in association.\u00a0<\/p> All broadcasts are available for 30 days on BBC Sounds and the BBC SO can also be seen on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer, and heard on the BBC\u2019s online archive, Experience Classical<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p> The BBC Symphony Orchestra appears 12 times at London\u2019s Royal Albert Hall for The Proms in 2024:<\/p> Prom 1<\/a>: Fri 19 July<\/strong><\/p> First Night of the Proms: Beethoven\u2019s Fifth Symphony, Handel\u2019s\u00a0Music for the Royal Fireworks<\/em>\u00a0and Clara Schumann\u2019s Piano Concerto, featuring Isata Kanneh-Mason, under Elim Chan<\/p> Prom 8<\/a>: Wed 24 July<\/strong><\/p> Nick Drake \u2013 An Orchestral Tribute. Jules Buckley conducts a celebration of the folk-rock hero.<\/p> Prom 14<\/a>: Mon 29 July<\/strong><\/p> Paavo J\u00e4rvi conducts Yunchan Lim in Beethoven\u2019s \u2018Emperor\u2019 Piano Concerto, Bruckner\u2019s First Symphony and Erkki-Sven T\u00fc\u00fcr\u2019sAditus<\/em>.<\/p> Prom 19<\/a>: Sat 3 Aug<\/strong><\/p> Holst\u2019s\u00a0The Cloud Messenger<\/em>, Elgar\u2019s Cello Concerto, with Senja Rummukainen as soloist, and Jonathan Harvey\u2019s\u00a0Tranquil Abiding<\/em>.<\/p> Prom 27<\/a>: Fri 9 Aug<\/strong><\/p> Sakari Oramo conducts Richard Strauss\u2019s\u00a0Alpine Symph<\/em>ony, Mozart\u2019s Piano Concerto No. 9 and Saariaho\u2019s\u00a0Mirage<\/em>.<\/p> Prom 33<\/a>: Tue 13 Aug<\/strong><\/p> An all-British Prom, including Elgar\u2019s Holst\u2019s\u00a0Hammersmith<\/em>\u00a0and Vaughan Williams\u2019s\u00a0A London Symphony<\/em>,\u00a0plus Stanford songs performed by baritone Christopher Maltman.<\/p> Prom 38<\/a>: Sun 18 Aug<\/strong><\/p> Tianyi Lu conducts Dukas\u2019s\u00a0The Sorcerer\u2019s Apprentic<\/em>e,<\/em>\u00a0a new Cello Concerto by Francisco Coll and Stravinsky\u2019s\u00a0The Firebird<\/em>.<\/p> Prom 45<\/a>: Sat 24 Aug<\/strong><\/p> Dalia Stasevska leads Sibelius\u2019s Fifth Symphony and Gustav Mahler songs, sung by Jamie Barton.<\/p> Prom 53<\/a>: Fri 30 Aug<\/strong><\/p> Sir Andrew Davis tribute (1944\u20132024): Steve Reich\u2019s\u00a0Jacob\u2019s Ladder<\/em>, Stravinsky\u2019s\u00a0Symphony in Three Movements<\/em>, Tippett\u2019s\u00a0The Midsummer Marriage – Ritual Dances<\/em>\u00a0and Elgar\u2019s\u00a0Enigma Variati<\/em>ons.<\/p> Prom 59<\/a>: Wed 4 Sep<\/strong><\/p> St\u00e9phane Den\u00e8ve leads French music, including works by Lili Boulanger, Ravel, and Faur\u00e9\u2019s Requiem.<\/p>Who are The BBC Symphony Orchestra?<\/h2>
When was the BBC Symphony Orchestra formed?<\/h2>
Who are the orchestra’s past conductors?<\/h2>
Who is the BBC Symphony Orchestra’s current chief conductor?<\/h2>
Who is the concertmaster of the BBC Symphony Orchestra?<\/h2>
Where is the orchestra based?<\/h2>
Where can you watch BBC Symphony Orchestra broadcasts?<\/h2>
When is the BBC Symphony Orchestra performing at the BBC Proms this summer?<\/h2>