Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra ( RPO ) is a British orchestra , the main venue is London's Cadogan Hall. It undertakes extensive concert tours.
history
The RPO was founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham and played its first concert in Croydon on September 15, 1946 . Beecham was principal conductor until his death in 1961. He was followed by Rudolf Kempe (by then assistant conductor), in 1970 the title of Conductor for Life ( Conductor for Life received). This was followed by Antal Doráti (1975–78), Walter Weller (1980–85), André Previn (1985–92) and Vladimir Ashkenazy (1987–94) as musical director and first conductor . Yuri Temirkanow was appointed Principal Conductor in 1992 and Daniele Gatti as Musical Director in 1996. His successor was Charles Dutoit, but Gatti continues to accompany the orchestra as Conductor Laureate .
With the 2009/2010 season Charles Dutoit took over the post of Artistic Director. In 2017 he was also appointed Conductor Laureate for life. In January 2018, Dutoit, who was accused of sexual assault, resigned from his post with immediate effect. The honorary title was revoked at the same time.
In 1950 the orchestra went on tour to the USA, becoming the second British orchestra to visit America after the London Symphony Orchestra in 1912.
As well as performances of works from the classical repertoire, the RPO has also recorded a number of film scores , such as the one for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's The Red Shoes . There were projects with rock bands such as 1969, the Concerto for Group and Orchestra of Deep Purple . It recorded the record series Hooked on Classics , as well as various pop arrangements by Pink Floyd , Queen and ABBA, among others . The orchestra has recently become closely associated with the British broadcaster Classic FM . The official version of the UEFA Champions League signature music was played by the RPO.
In October 2003, 14 RPO musicians recorded the string parts for several parts of the 2004 album A Semblance of Normality by the British folk metal band Skyclad .
Associated with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, which was formed in 1987 and is dedicated to the reproduction of the easier classical music.
Discography (chart successes)
Albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 DE
|
 AT
|
 CH
|
 UK
|
 US
|
|||
| 1970 | Concerto for Group and Orchestra |
DE22 (3 months) DE |
- | - |
UK26 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
with Deep Purple and Malcolm Arnold ; Recorded on September 24, 1969 at the Royal Albert Hall , London
|
| 1971 | Ekseption 00.04 |
DE35 (5 months) DE |
- | - | - | - | |
| 1975 | The Orchestral Tubular Bells | - | - | - |
UK17 (7 weeks) UK |
- |
with Mike Oldfield ; recorded in September 1974 at Manor Mobile
|
| 1977 | Classical gold | - | - | - |
UK22 (13 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 1978 | Classical Gold Volume 2 | - | - | - |
UK31 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
Box with 4 LPs
|
| 1981 | Hooked on Classics / Classic Disco |
DE1 (12 weeks) DE |
AT1 (1½ months) AT |
- |
UK4th  (39 weeks)UK |
US4th (68 weeks)US |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
| 1982 | Hooked on Classics 2 - Can't Stop the Classics / Non-Stop Classics |
DE17 (6 weeks) DE |
- | - |
UK13  (23 weeks)UK |
US33 (41 weeks)US |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
| 1983 | Hooked on Classics 3 - Journey Through the Classics | - | - | - |
UK19 (16 weeks) UK |
US89 (14 weeks) US |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
| Love Classics | - | - | - |
UK30th  (9 weeks)UK |
- |
Conductor: Nick Portlock
|
|
| The Best of Hooked on Classics 1981-1984 | - | - | - |
UK51 (6 weeks)UK |
- |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
|
| 1984 | Serenade - The Romantic Guitar of Juan Martín | - | - | - |
UK21 (9 weeks) UK |
- | |
| As Time Goes By | - | - | - |
UK95 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
Conductor: Harry Rabinovitz
|
|
| The Themes Album Vol. 1 | - | - | - |
UK43 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
compilation
|
|
| 1985 | The Classic Touch | - | - | - |
UK17 (18 weeks) UK |
- |
with Richard Clayderman
|
| 1987 | Elgar Cello Concerto | - | - | - |
UK94 (1 week) UK |
- |
Composition: Sir Edward Elgar , cello: Julian Lloyd Webber
|
| 1988 | Hooked on Rhythm & Classics / The Classics in Rhythm |
- | - | - | - | - |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
| 1990 | Opera extravaganza | - | - | - |
UK72 (1 week) UK |
- |
with London Symphony Orchestra ; Chorus: Royal Opera House ; Conductor: Luis Cobos
|
| Music for the Last Night of the Proms | - | - | - |
UK39 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
recorded from 2-4. June 1990 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road, London, Conductor: Sir Charles Groves
|
|
| Seriously Orchestral… Hits of Phil Collins / Plays Hits of Phil Collins |
- | - |
CH22 (5 weeks) CH |
UK31 (6 weeks)UK |
- |
recorded at CTS Studios, London, conductor and producer: Louis Clark
|
|
| Lloyd Webber Plays Lloyd Webber | - | - | - |
UK15th (14 weeks)UK |
- |
Conductor: Barry Wordsworth , cello: Julian Lloyd Webber
|
|
| My Classic Collection | - | - | - |
UK29 (7 weeks) UK |
- |
with Richard Clayderman
|
|
| 1991 | Brahms - Violin Concerto | - | - | - |
UK16 (12 weeks) UK |
- |
Conductor: Klaus Tennstedt , violin: Nigel Kennedy
|
| Michael Crawford Performs Andrew Lloyd Webber | - | - | - |
UK3 × 2
(36 weeks)UK |
- |
with Michael Crawford
|
|
| 1992 | Plays Abba | - | - |
CH94 (1 week) CH |
- | - |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
| Plays Genesis - Hits and Ballads |
DE49 (11 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - | ||
| The Very Best of Richard Clayderman | - | - | - |
UK47 (5 weeks) UK |
- |
with Richard Clayderman
|
|
| 1993 | Plays Hits of Freddie Mercury & Queen - We Are the Champions |
DE92 (3 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - |
recorded at CTS Studios, London and Pilot Studios, Munich
|
| 1994 | My Heart's Delight | - | - | - |
UK44 (5 weeks) UK |
- |
with Luciano Pavarotti
|
| Big Screen Classics | - | - | - |
UK49 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1996 | Amazing | - | - | - |
UK49 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 1997 | Plays Hits of Elton John - Candle in the Wind |
DE76 (1 week) DE |
- | - | - | - | |
| 1998 | Philharmania Vol. 1 |
DE80 (3 weeks) DE |
- | - | - | - |
Conductor, producer, piano: Mike Batt , Track 13: Not Fade Away with Status Quo
|
| 1999 | Hooked on Classics 2000 | - | - | - |
UK88 (1 week) UK |
- |
Conductor: Tolga Kashif
|
| 2002 | The Queen Symphony | - |
AT67 (2 weeks) AT |
- |
UK- |
- |
Conductor: Tolga Kashif
|
| 2004 | Symphonic rock | - | - | - |
UK42 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
| 2010 | Live in Berlin |
DE13 (17 weeks) DE |
AT22 (6 weeks) AT |
CH51 (6 weeks) CH |
- | - |
with sting
|
| 2011 | A tender light | - | - | - |
UK78 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
with Tenebrae Choir London; Recording: Church of St. Jude-on-the-Hill; Composer: Paul Mealor; Conductor: Nigel Short
|
| 2015 | Pete Townshend's Classic Quadrophenia | - | - | - |
UK32 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
Conductor: Robert Ziegler with Pete Townshend , Alfie Boe , Billy Idol , Phil Daniels , orchestration : Rachel Fuller
|
| If I Can Dream |
DE34 (4 weeks) DE |
AT2 (9 weeks)AT |
CH27 (8 weeks) CH |
UK1 × 3
(47 weeks)UK |
US21 (8 weeks) US |
with Elvis Presley
|
|
| Explosive |
DE4 (20 weeks) DE |
AT4 (19 weeks) AT |
CH7 (18 weeks) CH |
- | - |
David Garrett with Franck van der Heijden and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
|
|
| Christmas |
DE1 × 6
(41 weeks)DE |
AT1 × 8
(29 weeks)AT |
CH2 (35 weeks) CH |
- | - |
with Helene Fischer , double album
|
|
| 2016 | The Wonder of You |
DE11 (15 weeks) DE |
AT7th (14 weeks)AT |
CH15 (14 weeks) CH |
UK1 (27 weeks)UK |
US47 (2 weeks) US |
with Elvis Presley
|
| 2017 | Elvis Symphonique | - | - |
CH28 (5 weeks) CH |
- | - |
with Elvis Presley
|
| Christmas | - |
AT25 (4 weeks) AT |
CH66 (5 weeks) CH |
UK6th (12 weeks)UK |
US73 (5 weeks) US |
with Elvis Presley
|
|
| A Brand New Me |
DE64 (1 week) DE |
- |
CH57 (2 weeks) CH |
UK45 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
with Aretha Franklin
|
|
| 2018 | Unchained Melodies | - | - | - |
UK3 (13 weeks)UK |
- |
with Roy Orbison
|
| True Love Ways | - | - | - |
UK10 (13 weeks)UK |
- |
with Buddy Holly
|
|
| Carpenters with the Royal Philharmonic | - | - | - |
UK8th (11 weeks)UK |
- |
with The Carpenters
|
|
| 2019 | A love so beautiful | - | - | - |
UK22 (1 week) UK |
- |
with Roy Orbison
|
| Symphony of my life |
DE9 (31 weeks) DE |
AT2 (13 weeks) AT |
CH25 (8 weeks) CH |
- | - |
with Howard Carpendale
|
|
| You're in My Heart: Rod Stewart with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |
DE23 (6 weeks) DE |
AT44 (1 week) AT |
CH48 (1 week) CH |
UK1 (18 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: November 22, 2019
with Rod Stewart |
|
| Christmas with the Stars & the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | - | - | - |
UK21 (4 weeks) UK |
- |
First published: November 29, 2019
|
|
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks / months, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks / months, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
DE
|
AT
|
CH
|
UK
|
US
|
|||
| 1981 | Hooked on Classics Hooked on Classics |
DE18 (13 weeks) DE |
AT6 (3 months) AT |
- |
UK2 (11 weeks)UK |
US10 (20 weeks) US |
|
| Hooked on Can Can Hooked on Classics |
- | - | - |
UK47 (3 weeks) UK |
- | ||
| 1982 | BBC World Cup Grandstand Action Replay (BBC Sporting Themes) |
- | - | - |
UK61 (3 weeks) UK |
- |
Conductor: Harry Rabinowitz, Producer: Andrew Lloyd Webber
|
| If You Knew Sousa (And Friends) Hooked on Classics 2 - Can't Stop the Classics |
- | - | - |
UK71 (2 weeks) UK |
- |
Conductor: Louis Clark
|
|
| 1989 | Mixed up classics | - | - | - |
UK88 (2 weeks) UK |
- | |
Awards for music sales
|
Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.
| Country / Region |
silver |
gold |
platinum
|
Sales | swell |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources) |
|||||
|
Germany (BVMI)
|
- | - |
6 × platinum6th
|
1,200,000 | musikindustrie.de |
|
Austria (IFPI)
|
- |
2 × gold2
|
8 × platinum8th
|
135,000 | ifpi.at |
|
United States (RIAA)
|
- |
gold1
|
platinum1
|
1,500,000 | riaa.com |
|
United Kingdom (BPI)
|
8 × silver8th
|
6 × gold6th
|
8 × platinum8th
|
3,420,000 | bpi.co.uk |
| All in all |
8 × silver8th
|
9 × gold9
|
23 × platinum23
|
||
swell
- ↑ Michael Cooper: Charles Dutoit, Conductor Accused of Sexual Assault, Leaves Royal Philharmonic in: The New York Times, January 10, 2018, accessed February 21, 2018
- ↑ a b Chart sources: Singles Albums UK US
- ^ The Billboard Albums by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7
- ^ Concerto for Group and Orchestra (Deep Purple) in the UK charts
- ↑ Juan Martín in the British charts
- ↑ Julian Lloyd Webber in the British charts
- ^ Opera Extravaganza (Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and others) in the British charts
- ↑ My Classic Collection (Richard Clayderman) in the British charts
- ^ Nigel Kennedy & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in the British charts
- ↑ The Very Best of Richard Clayderman (album) in the British charts
- ↑ My Heart's Delight (Luciano Pavarotti) in the British charts
- ↑ Mealor / A Tender Light (album) in the UK charts
- ↑ If You Knew Sousa (single) in the UK charts
Web links
- Homepage of the RPO
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Allmusic (English)
- Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Discogs (English)