During the Britpop era of the 90s, Manchester birthed some of the most influential musicians including The Smiths, Joy Division and Happy Mondays, yet it is often forgotten that Manchester is also home to some of the finest orchestras in the UK.
Whether it is the elegance of a string quartet or the booming of the percussion, nothing provokes such emotion as the power of a symphony harmonious in tone and tempo… with Manchester having a cacophony of composers and musicians to join the city’s endless talent.
In the 1950s, the city was home to the so-called ‘Manchester School’ of classical composers: Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, David Ellis and Alexander Goehr.
And with many of the UK’s best and brightest classical music stars having graced the stage at the prestigious Bridgewater Hall to perform to audiences of more than 2,000 people, MM takes a look some of the greatest professional orchestras to make even the London Philharmonic take note.
5. Northern Chamber Orchestra
Established in the late 1960s, The Northern Chamber Orchestra has gained a formidable reputation for its engaging and exciting concerts.
The 19 talented musicians tackle a wide range of repertoire from Corelli to Stravinsky and beyond.
The orchestra has recorded commercially for the Naxos label, including works by famous baroque and classical composers such as Hadyn, Mozart and Telemann.
Principle flute for NCO, Conrad Marshall, said: “Having played with NCO for many years, I’ve enjoyed all sorts of fantastic experiences with the orchestra.”
4. Psappha
Psappha New Music Ensemble takes its unusual name from a historic composition by a Greek modernist composer.
Psappha, pronouned ‘sah-fa’, is an ensemble of skilled classical musicians who work together to create a contemporary sound.
Having made a number of recordings on various labels, Psappha succeeded in launching its own CD label in 2004.
Tim Williams, Artistic Director and founder of Psappha more than 20 years ago, said: “We are a group of musicians who are passionate about working with and performing music by living composers.”
3. Manchester Camerata
After 40 years of performing across the globe, Manchester Camerata is acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading chamber orchestras.
It is this spirit of friendship that inspires Camerata’s widely praised approach to programming as well as their fresh and imaginative interpretations of a diverse range of chamber orchestra repertoire.
The Camerata performs to a staggering 70,000 people each year and consists of exceptional musicians who deliver nimble and exciting performances.
The inspirational orchestra use their live music to empower profound change to people’s lives, particularly to dementia patients.
2. BBC Philharmonic
Only just falling short of reaching first place is the BBC Philharmonic, which is one of just five radio orchestras maintained by the BBC.
Their recent performance, ‘The Sound of Music’ enticed every single member of the audience – even the non-classical fans that had been dragged along by relatives –from the very first note.
The concert ended with Star Wars, which was the perfect rousing ending to a spectacular evening, leaving everyone in the auditorium smiling.
1. The Hallé
Who else but The Hallé can claim the top spot?
As one of the oldest Manchester orchestras, founded in 1858 it has a distinguished history of acclaimed performances in this country and around the world, as well as award-winning recordings on its own record label, radio broadcasts and educational outreach programmes.
Their repertoire is played with apparent ease, with all the musicians working together to create a beautiful, professional and tight sound.
Eve Commander, a 21-year-old member of the orchestra’s choir since 2010, said: “It is such an amazing experience performing with such a prestigious orchestra in the Bridgewater Hall.
“Mark Elder, the conductor, is truly an inspiration.”
Image courtesy of Tricia J via Flickr, with thanks.
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