| When the New London Orchestra was launched by
Ronald Corp in January 1988, Nicholas Kenyon wrote in The Observer: "an impressive
debut, and if one wondered why a new orchestra was needed at this moment, the answer was
quickly given by the distinctive programme…and by the exceptionally well-balanced and
blended sound these young players produced under the direction of Ronald Corp." Since
then the NLO has performed innovative programmes broadcast on Classic fm and Radio 3 as well as appearing in BBC
Promenade concerts and other festivals. The orchestra has released ten discs with Hyperion Records. Five feature music by Poulenc, Satie, Prokofiev, Virgil Thompson, Milhaud. Three discs of British Light Music Classics have been recent successes with the Sunday Times describing the first as cult classic of the year, chosen by Gramophone magazine as CD of the month and voted CD of the year by Classic CD magazine readers. A second volume of British Light Music Classics was selected as Editor’s Choice in Gramophone magazine. These discs have been followed by one of European Light Music Classics and one of American Light Music Classics, already chosen as Classic fm’s CD of the week. Most recently the NLO have recorded the Sidney Jones operetta The Geisha. The NLO accompanied Adventures in Motion Pictures’ award-winning production of Swan Lake both in London and on a nationwide tour, having previously taken part in their production of The Nutcracker (Sadler’s Wells 1994 and 1995). Since then the orchestra has also accompanied AMP’s production of Cinderella in London. During 1988 the orchestra presented a concert series, British Concertos, which included performances of Gavin Bryers’ cello concerto by Julian Lloyd Webber, Howard Ferguson’s Piano Concerto and the première of a piano concerto by Ronald Corp. The New London Orchestra also celebrated its Tenth Anniversary early in 1998 with a special Gala concert featuring the world première of a BBC-commissioned piano concerto by Andrew Simpson. Since then the orchestra’s works has included a charity gala with Peter Frankl at the Royal Festival Hall and festival appearances including Bury St Edmunds, Aldeburgh and the BBC Proms, in addition to its own London concert series. In addition to concert and recordings, future plans for the NLO include extensive development of their education and community work. Following the recent success of the orchestra’s performances with the disabled dance group Amici a further project is planned at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith for Summer 2000. This forms part of NLO’s residency in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and many other exciting projects are planned.
New London Orchestra Ltd |
