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Founded: 1930

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra has been central to British musical life for eight decades. It provides the backbone of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Proms, performing around a dozen concerts every year, the First and Last Nights among them, and performs concerts around the world. Innovative programming, distinctive repertoire and the spirit of musical adventure define its annual concert seasons as Associate Orchestra of the Barbican. The orchestra's commitment to contemporary music is reflected in its long record of world and UK premieres.

In recent seasons it has given first performances of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ commissions by such leading international composers as John Adams, Elliott Carter, Vic Hoyland, Matthias Pintscher, Karlheinz Stockhausen and JudithWeir. Oliver Knussen is Artist in Association. All the orchestra's concerts are broadcast on Radio 3, streamed live online and made available for seven days on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ iPlayer, while a number are televised to give the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra the highest broadcast profile of any UK orchestra.

Studio recordings for Radio 3 at its Maida Vale home are central to the orchestra's life – in addition, the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ SO frequently records for commercial labels. Recent international performances include concerts in China, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, with tours to Germany and Spain planned for 2011. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra shares its Maida Vale home and management with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Chorus, one of the UK's finest and most distinctive amateur choirs, and frequently performs with it.

Jiří Bělohlávek
Chief Conductor

Jiří BÄ›lohlávek (b. 1946, Czech Republic) became chief conductor of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra in 2006. Renowned for his championship of Czech music, his strength in core romantic repertoire, contemporary music and opera, recent highlights of his work with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra include Martinů's opera Juliette, the complete Martinů symphonies and Mahler's Eighth Symphony for the First Night of Proms 2010. Founder of the Prague Philharmonia, he is president of the Prague Spring Festival and is in regular demand by opera houses and orchestras around the world, including recently Glyndebourne Festival Opera and the Metropolitan Opera, NewYork.

Sir Andrew Davis
Conductor Laureate

Sir Andrew Davis (b.1944, UK) became the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra's first conductor laureate in 2000, following his distinguished tenure as the orchestra's chief conductor (1989-2000). Knighted in 1999 for his services to music, he is known for the depth of his musicianship, the breadth of his repertoire and the passionate enthusiasm with which he engages performers and audiences alike.

Sir Andrew is music director and principal conductor of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. He made his debut with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra in November 1970 and remains a central figure among its family of musicians.

David Robertson
Principal Guest Conductor

David Robertson (b. 1958, USA) was appointed principal guest conductor of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra in 2005. Recent performances with the Orchestra have ranged from Stockhausen's Inori to Mozart's Requiem and the Last Night of the Proms in 2009. He was music director of Ensemble Intercontemporain, Paris (1990-2000), then music director of the Orchestre National de Lyon.

In addition to his post with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Symphony Orchestra, he is currently music director of Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra.