London Symphony Orchestra

Related links

• Visit the LSO's website

Classic FM has worked with the LSO, its orchestra in the city of London, since 2003. Together, Classic FM and the LSO have worked on a number of projects that have brought new audiences to classical music.

The London Symphony Orchestra is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading orchestras. Its many activities include an energetic and ground-breaking education and community programme, a record company (LSO Live), and exciting work in the field of information technology.

Over a century after it was formed, the LSO still attracts the best players, many of whom also have flourishing solo and chamber music careers. The LSO also draws on an enviable roster of soloists and conductors, starting with Principal Conductor Valery Gergiev, LSO President Sir Colin Davis, and Daniel Harding and Michael Tilson Thomas as Principal Guest Conductors.

LSO St Luke’s, the UBS and LSO music education centre on Old Street, continues to expand its artistic programme with top artists from diverse musical backgrounds, and LSO Discovery is facilitating music education using new technology, and building stronger links with the local communities. LSO Live is the best-selling orchestral own-label in the world and is regularly No 1 in the classical downloads charts on iTunes.

Continuing the orchestra’s long association with film music, the LSO has recently recorded soundtracks for Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The orchestra also features on radio, TV, computer games and in-flight music programmes.

The London Symphony Orchestra's spring and summer 2011 concerts explore the symphonies of Tchaikovsky with Valery Gergiev, the beginning of a complete cycle, and Beethoven's Piano Concertos with Mitsuko Uchida and Sir Colin Davis. Conductors Kristjan Järvi, Xian Zhang and Bernard Haitink will be appearing, along with world-class soloists such as Leila Josefowicz, Yefim Bronfman, Julia Fischer, Leonidas Kavakos and Murray Perahia. For those that enjoy musicals, in June Kristjan Järvi will conduct a concert performance of Bernstein's Candide with Andrew Staples in the title role and Keira Duffy as Cunegonde.