London Mozart Players
Encyclopedia
The London Mozart Players (LMP) is a British chamber orchestra founded in 1949. The LMP is the longest-established chamber orchestra in the United Kingdom whose performances and recordings focus largely on the core repertoire from the Classical era
. Since 1989, the orchestra has been based at Fairfield Halls
, Croydon
.
The LMP was founded in 1949 by Harry Blech, a violinist who was beginning to turn his hand to conducting, who had been asked by pianist Dorothea Braus to form an orchestra with which she could play two Mozart piano concertos. The concert took place on 11 February at Wigmore Hall
, London and the programme also included two Mozart symphonies, Nos. 28 in C
and 29 in A
. The concert was a success and Harry Blech realised that he had found an audience for the music he wanted to perform; that of Haydn
, Mozart
, Beethoven
, Schubert
and their contemporaries.
On 3 May 1951, the Royal Festival Hall
was opened and the LMP was invited to perform as part of the RFH's opening week of concerts. The orchestra then switched its operation to the more appropriately-sized Queen Elizabeth Hall
after its opening in 1967. In 1956, the LMP embarked on its first overseas tour to Italy by way of Amsterdam
. During Blech's time as principal conductor, the orchestra made many commercial recordings http://www.firsthandrecords.com/releases%20LMP.htm and was also regularly broadcast on the Third Programme and its successor, BBC Radio 3
.
Jane Glover
became Harry Blech's successor in 1984 and introduced much new repertoire to the LMP concert programmes as well as appointing Howard Shelley
and Andrew Parrott
as Associate Conductors. The most significant development of Jane Glover's time with the orchestra was the LMP's move to Croydon
in 1989, to become Resident Orchestra of the London Borough of Croydon
and of Fairfield Halls
. This followed a successful series of concerts at Fairfield in 1988, supported by Greater London Arts, which had shown a strong potential following for the orchestra in the Borough, and also demonstrated the excellence of Fairfield's acoustics for the LMP's repertoire. Croydon Council and Nestlé
, whose UK headquarters are opposite Fairfield, were approached for support, and a unique tripartite alliance was formed, between local authority, private sector sponsor and arts organisation.
With Glover the LMP made a number of television broadcasts and during Mozart's bicentennial year in 1991, performed Mozart's Requiem
in St Paul's Cathedral
which was televised live and timed to finish to the exact minute of the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death
. This performance was attended by The Princess of Wales
and The Prince Edward
, who had become the orchestra's Patron in 1990 and who has since actively supported the orchestra at concerts in the UK and on tours abroad, as well as assisting with the orchestra's fundraising activities.
In 1992, Swiss conductor Matthias Bamert
became principal conductor of the LMP and during his time, produced a considerable body of recording with Chandos Records
(which continues to this day). In April 1996, the LMP made their début in the Musikverein concert hall in Vienna
.
Working alongside Matthias Bamert was the conductor and pianist Howard Shelley
, who was Associate Conductor and Principal Guest Conductor with the LMP from 1990-1998. Shelley has performed as both conductor and soloist/director with the orchestra and continues to make several appearances with the LMP every year. In 1999, flautist Sir James Galway succeeded Shelley as Principal Guest Conductor. Like Shelley, Galway has often combined the dual roles of conductor and soloist and has also worked with the orchestra on several recordings.
In September 2000, British conductor Andrew Parrott
was appointed Music Director, a position which he held until 2006. A specialist in the LMP's core repertoire, and also a renowned choral and opera conductor, Andrew Parrott has broadened the scope of the orchestra's work, introducing some early Romantic
symphonies as well as more vocal
and choral
music.
On 22 October 2009, the LMP announced the appointment of South African conductor Gérard Korsten as Music Director Designate who will assume the role at the start of the LMP's 2010/11 concert season.
, Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton
and in the South Holland
and East Lindsey
districts of Lincolnshire
.
of works by lesser-known eighteenth century composers, entitled the Contemporaries of Mozart series. Many of these recordings have drawn wide spread critical acclaim and have been credited with bringing these lesser-heard composers to the public light. A number of releases have also been awarded Editor's Choice in Gramophone magazine. The series includes works by:
Classical period (music)
The dates of the Classical Period in Western music are generally accepted as being between about 1750 and 1830. However, the term classical music is used colloquially to describe a variety of Western musical styles from the ninth century to the present, and especially from the sixteenth or...
. Since 1989, the orchestra has been based at Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Hall is an arts centre in Croydon, London, England and opened in 1962. It contains a concert hall, the Ashcroft Theatre , the Arnhem Gallery civic hall and an art gallery....
, Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
History
Wigmore Hall
Wigmore Hall is a leading international recital venue that specialises in hosting performances of chamber music and is best known for classical recitals of piano, song and instrumental music. It is located at 36 Wigmore Street, London, UK and was built to provide London with a venue that was both...
, London and the programme also included two Mozart symphonies, Nos. 28 in C
Symphony No. 28 (Mozart)
The Symphony No. 28 in C major, K. 200/189k, was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Likely composed in 1774, it is his last piece in the "Salzburg series"...
and 29 in A
Symphony No. 29 (Mozart)
The Symphony No. 29 in A major, K. 201/186a, was completed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on 6 April 1774. It is, along with Symphony No. 25, one of his better known early symphonies. Stanley Sadie characterizes it as "a landmark .....
. The concert was a success and Harry Blech realised that he had found an audience for the music he wanted to perform; that of Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
, Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
, Schubert
Franz Schubert
Franz Peter Schubert was an Austrian composer.Although he died at an early age, Schubert was tremendously prolific. He wrote some 600 Lieder, nine symphonies , liturgical music, operas, some incidental music, and a large body of chamber and solo piano music...
and their contemporaries.
On 3 May 1951, the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
was opened and the LMP was invited to perform as part of the RFH's opening week of concerts. The orchestra then switched its operation to the more appropriately-sized Queen Elizabeth Hall
Queen Elizabeth Hall
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a music venue on the South Bank in London, United Kingdom that hosts daily classical, jazz, and avant-garde music and dance performances. The QEH forms part of Southbank Centre arts complex and stands alongside the Royal Festival Hall, which was built for the Festival...
after its opening in 1967. In 1956, the LMP embarked on its first overseas tour to Italy by way of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. During Blech's time as principal conductor, the orchestra made many commercial recordings http://www.firsthandrecords.com/releases%20LMP.htm and was also regularly broadcast on the Third Programme and its successor, BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
.
Jane Glover
Jane Glover
Jane Glover CBE is a British-born conductor and music scholar.-Early life:Glover attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Her father, Robert Finlay Glover MA TD,was headmaster of Monmouth School and it was through this connection that she was able to meet Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears...
became Harry Blech's successor in 1984 and introduced much new repertoire to the LMP concert programmes as well as appointing Howard Shelley
Howard Shelley
Howard Gordon Shelley OBE is a British pianist and conductor. He was educated at Highgate School and the Royal College of Music...
and Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
as Associate Conductors. The most significant development of Jane Glover's time with the orchestra was the LMP's move to Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
in 1989, to become Resident Orchestra of the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
and of Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Halls
Fairfield Hall is an arts centre in Croydon, London, England and opened in 1962. It contains a concert hall, the Ashcroft Theatre , the Arnhem Gallery civic hall and an art gallery....
. This followed a successful series of concerts at Fairfield in 1988, supported by Greater London Arts, which had shown a strong potential following for the orchestra in the Borough, and also demonstrated the excellence of Fairfield's acoustics for the LMP's repertoire. Croydon Council and Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
, whose UK headquarters are opposite Fairfield, were approached for support, and a unique tripartite alliance was formed, between local authority, private sector sponsor and arts organisation.
With Glover the LMP made a number of television broadcasts and during Mozart's bicentennial year in 1991, performed Mozart's Requiem
Requiem (Mozart)
The Requiem Mass in D minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was composed in Vienna in 1791 and left unfinished at the composer's death. A completion by Franz Xaver Süssmayr was delivered to Count Franz von Walsegg, who had anonymously commissioned the piece for a requiem Mass to commemorate the...
in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
which was televised live and timed to finish to the exact minute of the 200th anniversary of Mozart's death
Death of Mozart
The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died at 1:00 am on 5 December 1791 at the age of 35, following a short illness.-Illness and last days:...
. This performance was attended by The Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
and The Prince Edward
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
, who had become the orchestra's Patron in 1990 and who has since actively supported the orchestra at concerts in the UK and on tours abroad, as well as assisting with the orchestra's fundraising activities.
In 1992, Swiss conductor Matthias Bamert
Matthias Bamert
Matthias Bamert is a Swiss composer and conductor.Matthias Bamert studied music in his native Switzerland as well as in Paris and Darmstadt, falling in with the likes of Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen; these associations can be detected in his own compositions from the 1970's...
became principal conductor of the LMP and during his time, produced a considerable body of recording with Chandos Records
Chandos Records
Chandos Records is an independent classical music recording company based in Colchester, Essex, in the United Kingdom, founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.- Background :...
(which continues to this day). In April 1996, the LMP made their début in the Musikverein concert hall in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Working alongside Matthias Bamert was the conductor and pianist Howard Shelley
Howard Shelley
Howard Gordon Shelley OBE is a British pianist and conductor. He was educated at Highgate School and the Royal College of Music...
, who was Associate Conductor and Principal Guest Conductor with the LMP from 1990-1998. Shelley has performed as both conductor and soloist/director with the orchestra and continues to make several appearances with the LMP every year. In 1999, flautist Sir James Galway succeeded Shelley as Principal Guest Conductor. Like Shelley, Galway has often combined the dual roles of conductor and soloist and has also worked with the orchestra on several recordings.
In September 2000, British conductor Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
was appointed Music Director, a position which he held until 2006. A specialist in the LMP's core repertoire, and also a renowned choral and opera conductor, Andrew Parrott has broadened the scope of the orchestra's work, introducing some early Romantic
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
symphonies as well as more vocal
Vocal music
Vocal music is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered instrumental music Vocal music is a genre of...
and choral
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
music.
On 22 October 2009, the LMP announced the appointment of South African conductor Gérard Korsten as Music Director Designate who will assume the role at the start of the LMP's 2010/11 concert season.
Principal Conductors
- 1949-1984 Harry Blech
- 1984-1992 Jane GloverJane GloverJane Glover CBE is a British-born conductor and music scholar.-Early life:Glover attended Haberdashers' Monmouth School for Girls. Her father, Robert Finlay Glover MA TD,was headmaster of Monmouth School and it was through this connection that she was able to meet Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears...
- 1992-2000 Matthias BamertMatthias BamertMatthias Bamert is a Swiss composer and conductor.Matthias Bamert studied music in his native Switzerland as well as in Paris and Darmstadt, falling in with the likes of Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen; these associations can be detected in his own compositions from the 1970's...
- 2000-2006 Andrew ParrottAndrew ParrottAndrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
- 2010 Gérard Korsten
Residencies
As well as Fairfield Halls, the LMP is resident at The Anvil, BasingstokeThe Anvil, Basingstoke
The Anvil is a concert hall with theatre functionality and a performing arts centre in the town of Basingstoke in Hampshire, UK.Built on a site originally set aside for the third phase of Basingstoke's shopping centre, The Anvil was built to tackle what was then seen as a 'cultural desert' in the...
, Turner Sims Concert Hall, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
and in the South Holland
South Holland, Lincolnshire
South Holland is a local government district of Lincolnshire. The district council is based in Spalding.It was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the Spalding urban district with East Elloe Rural District and Spalding Rural District...
and East Lindsey
East Lindsey
East Lindsey is a local government district in Lincolnshire, England. The council is based in Manby near Louth, and other major settlements in the district include Alford, Spilsby, Mablethorpe, Skegness, Horncastle and Chapel St Leonards....
districts of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
Contemporaries of Mozart series
In 1993, the London Mozart Players began a series of recordings for Chandos RecordsChandos Records
Chandos Records is an independent classical music recording company based in Colchester, Essex, in the United Kingdom, founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.- Background :...
of works by lesser-known eighteenth century composers, entitled the Contemporaries of Mozart series. Many of these recordings have drawn wide spread critical acclaim and have been credited with bringing these lesser-heard composers to the public light. A number of releases have also been awarded Editor's Choice in Gramophone magazine. The series includes works by:
|
William Herschel Sir Frederick William Herschel, KH, FRS, German: Friedrich Wilhelm Herschel was a German-born British astronomer, technical expert, and composer. Born in Hanover, Wilhelm first followed his father into the Military Band of Hanover, but emigrated to Britain at age 19... Franz Anton Hoffmeister Franz Anton Hoffmeister was a German composer and music publisher.Born in Rottenburg am Neckar, he went to Vienna at the age of fourteen to study law... Leopold Kozeluch Leopold Kozeluch was a Czech composer and teacher of classical music. He was born in the town of Velvary, in Bohemia .-Life:... Franz Krommer Franz Krommer was a Czech composer of classical music, whose seventy-year life began the year of the death of George Frideric Handel and ended a few years after that of Ludwig van Beethoven.-Life:The main events of his life were somewhat as follows:* From 1773 to 1776,... John Marsh (composer) John Marsh was an English music composer, born in Dorking, England. A lawyer by training, he is known to have written at least 350 compositions, including at least 39 symphonies... Leopold Mozart Johann Georg Leopold Mozart was a German composer, conductor, teacher, and violinist. Mozart is best known today as the father and teacher of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and for his violin textbook Versuch einer gründlichen Violinschule.-Childhood and student years:He was born in Augsburg, son of... |
Josef Myslivecek Josef Mysliveček was a Czech composer who contributed to the formation of late eighteenth-century classicism in music... Franz Xaver Richter Franz Xaver Richter, known as François Xavier Richter in France was an Austro-Moravian singer, violinist, composer, conductor and music theoretician who spent most of his life first in Austria and later in Mannheim and in Strasbourg, where he was music director of the cathedral... Antonio Rosetti Antonio Rosetti was a classical era composer and double bass player, and was a contemporary of Haydn and Mozart.... Antonio Salieri Antonio Salieri was a Venetian classical composer, conductor and teacher born in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice, but who spent his adult life and career as a faithful subject of the Habsburg monarchy.... |
Carl Stamitz Karl Philipp Stamitz , who later changed his given name to Carl, was a German composer of partial Czech ancestry , and a violin, viola and viola d'amore virtuoso... Johann Baptist Vanhal Johann Baptist Vanhal also spelled Wanhal, Waṅhall or Wanhall was an important classical music composer born in Nechanice, Bohemia to a Czech family.- Biography :... Georg Joseph Vogler Georg Joseph Vogler, also known as Abbé Vogler , was a German composer, organist, teacher and theorist.Vogler was born at Pleichach in Würzburg... Samuel Wesley Samuel Wesley was an English organist and composer in the late Georgian period. Wesley was a contemporary of Mozart and was called by some "the English Mozart."-Personal life:... Paul Wranitzky Pavel Vranický was a Moravian classical composer. His brother, Antonín, was also a composer.-Life:... |
External links
- London Mozart Players official website
- London Mozart Players 2009/10 concert dates
- Fairfield Halls, Croydon website
- Chandos Records website