Philharmonia Orchestra

Founded in London in 1945 by producer Walter Legge, the Philharmonia Orchestra built its reputation in the symphonic and operatic repertoire, with an identity centred on classical music from the great European canon to contemporary creation. Now based around the Royal Festival Hall, the orchestra first worked with conductors such as Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Arturo Toscanini and Herbert von Karajan, before Otto Klemperer left a lasting mark on its history from the late 1950s. In 1964, after Legge's attempt to dissolve the ensemble, the musicians reorganised as an autonomous body under the name New Philharmonia Orchestra, used until 1977 when the original name was restored. Riccardo Muti, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Christoph von Dohnányi and later Esa‑Pekka Salonen then oversaw major developments — concerts, international tours, composer commissions and substantial recording activity. The Philharmonia Orchestra has also recorded for film and opera, two significant facets of its work. Since the 2021–2022 season the Finnish conductor Santtu‑Matias Rouvali has been its principal conductor.