Biography
Widely admired for its adaptability and refined execution, the English Chamber Orchestra stands among the world's foremost chamber ensembles. Sharing an outlook and organizational approach with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the group maintains financial independence and lacks any fixed concert hall. It mounts a yearly London series while undertaking tours abroad. Over decades the ensemble has broadened its programming across multiple eras of chamber literature and varies its forces from 24 to 38 players according to each project. In 2022, Neil Thomson led the English Chamber Orchestra on the release Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra.
Arnold Goldsborough founded the orchestra in 1948 specifically to present Baroque repertoire. First known as the Goldsborough Orchestra, it adopted the English Chamber Orchestra name in 1960 to match its rising profile. At that moment the English Chamber Orchestra and Music Society charity was created to manage promotion. Like comparable groups, the ECO engages players only on contract rather than full-time, enabling the ensemble to alter its size and configuration for differing programs and venues while allowing musicians to accept outside work. This arrangement underpins the orchestra's distinctive freshness through its co-principal system, in which two principals share each desk and are engaged for a fixed number of performances each season.
The ECO has appeared at many landmark events, among them a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II at the 1967 inaugural concert of Queen Elizabeth Hall. Further notable occasions include the BBC's first color-television music broadcast and the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales. Its longstanding link with Benjamin Britten began when it became resident orchestra at the 1961 Aldeburgh Festival. Tours have taken the ensemble throughout Europe, the United States, and China.
Until 1985 the orchestra deliberately avoided appointing a principal conductor, preferring instead to engage distinguished guests. The policy has furnished early opportunities to several rising figures, among them Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Barenboim, and Pinchas Zukerman. At the 1985 Silver Anniversary celebrations, Jeffrey Tate was named to the newly instituted post of principal conductor; Ralf Gothóni succeeded him in 2000. Paul Watkins has also served as music director, and Roy Goodman has held the position of principal guest conductor. Stephanie Gonley has been the orchestra's leader since 1997 and has additionally directed performances from the violin.
Hundreds of recordings on major labels document the ECO's activity, with notable representation on EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, and Sony. Highlights encompass three complete Mozart piano-concerto cycles: Daniel Barenboim's on EMI Classics, Mitsuko Uchida's on Philips, and Murray Perahia's on Sony Classical. Benjamin Hochman led from the keyboard in the orchestra's 2019 Avie recording of Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 24. Further Mozart projects appeared in the early 2020s, followed in 2022 by Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra under Neil Thomson.
Arnold Goldsborough founded the orchestra in 1948 specifically to present Baroque repertoire. First known as the Goldsborough Orchestra, it adopted the English Chamber Orchestra name in 1960 to match its rising profile. At that moment the English Chamber Orchestra and Music Society charity was created to manage promotion. Like comparable groups, the ECO engages players only on contract rather than full-time, enabling the ensemble to alter its size and configuration for differing programs and venues while allowing musicians to accept outside work. This arrangement underpins the orchestra's distinctive freshness through its co-principal system, in which two principals share each desk and are engaged for a fixed number of performances each season.
The ECO has appeared at many landmark events, among them a command performance for Queen Elizabeth II at the 1967 inaugural concert of Queen Elizabeth Hall. Further notable occasions include the BBC's first color-television music broadcast and the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana of Wales. Its longstanding link with Benjamin Britten began when it became resident orchestra at the 1961 Aldeburgh Festival. Tours have taken the ensemble throughout Europe, the United States, and China.
Until 1985 the orchestra deliberately avoided appointing a principal conductor, preferring instead to engage distinguished guests. The policy has furnished early opportunities to several rising figures, among them Sir Colin Davis, Daniel Barenboim, and Pinchas Zukerman. At the 1985 Silver Anniversary celebrations, Jeffrey Tate was named to the newly instituted post of principal conductor; Ralf Gothóni succeeded him in 2000. Paul Watkins has also served as music director, and Roy Goodman has held the position of principal guest conductor. Stephanie Gonley has been the orchestra's leader since 1997 and has additionally directed performances from the violin.
Hundreds of recordings on major labels document the ECO's activity, with notable representation on EMI, Deutsche Grammophon, and Sony. Highlights encompass three complete Mozart piano-concerto cycles: Daniel Barenboim's on EMI Classics, Mitsuko Uchida's on Philips, and Murray Perahia's on Sony Classical. Benjamin Hochman led from the keyboard in the orchestra's 2019 Avie recording of Mozart's Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 24. Further Mozart projects appeared in the early 2020s, followed in 2022 by Serenata: Brazilian Music for Chamber Orchestra under Neil Thomson.
Albums
