Classy, 1790-seater venue showcasing live classical and modern music, plus comedy and a cinema. The award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is the UK’s oldest continuing professional symphony orchestra. The origins of the Orchestra’s concert series date back to the formation of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic by a group of Liverpool music lovers in 1840.
Domingo Hindoyan was appointed Chief Conductor of the Orchestra in 2021, joining a distinguished line of musicians who have led the Orchestra during its illustrious history, including Vasily Petrenko, Max Bruch, Sir Charles Hallé, Sir Henry Wood, Sir Malcolm Sargent, Sir John Pritchard, Sir Charles Groves, Walter Weller, David Atherton, Marek Janowski, Libor Pešek KBE, Petr Altrichter and Gerard Schwarz. In 2018 Andrew Manze was appointed Principal Guest Conductor, and in 2021 Vasily Petrenko became Conductor Laureate.
The Orchestra gives over seventy concerts each season in its home, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, as well as concerts in venues across the city. In recent seasons the Orchestra has given world premiere performances of major works by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Sir John Tavener, Karl Jenkins, Stewart Copeland, Michael Nyman, Michael Torke, Nico Muhly, James Horner and Sir James MacMillan alongside works by Liverpool-born and North West-based composers including Mark Simpson, Emily Howard and Kenneth Hesketh.
Collaborations with international artists from rock, pop, folk and dance music include Liverpool’s own Sir Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Ian Broudie and the Lightning Seeds, Echo and The Bunnymen, Cast, The Unthanks and Liverpool superclub, Cream. Launched in February 2009, In Harmony Liverpool uses orchestral music making to improve the life chances of children [1] by increasing confidence, wellbeing, skills and resilience, enhanced by opportunities to travel, learn, perform and collaborate with professional musicians, international artists and other young people. In Harmony Liverpool’s vision is a healthier, higher achieving future for North Liverpool. “It’s given me the opportunity to meet new people, expand my social circle, develop life skills, grow more confidence. It helped me to focus and know what I want to do with my life and feel able to do it my way without pressure from anyone else. It changed me.”
Founded in 1840 by a group of Liverpool music-lovers, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic is one the world’s oldest concert societies and throughout its history, has been at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural life. The original vision of its founders has remained a driving force and is interpreted today in Liverpool Philharmonic’s mission “to promote the love of music and music-making” at the centre of which is the award-winning Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and its associated ensembles and concert series; Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, one of the UK’s premier arts and entertainment venues; the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Choir; Liverpool Philharmonic Youth Company incorporatingYouth Orchestra, Choir, and Children’s Choirs; and an extensive learning programme which is recognised as a national leader in its field in its quality, reach and impact on our communities.
Liverpool Philharmonic presents more than 400 concerts and events at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall including in its smaller scale venue, Music Room, and venues across the City annually. More than 350,000 children and adults engage with Liverpool Philharmonic annually, either as ticket buyers for performances or as participants in music workshops and associated events.
In Harmony is targeted at children with the greatest need and fewest resources [2]– over 40% of In Harmony children are classed as living in poverty [3]. Music making takes place at All Saints Catholic Primary School, Anfield Children’s Centre, Everton Nursery School and Family Centre, Faith Primary School, The Beacon Church of England Primary School and at Liverpool Philharmonic at the Friary, our rehearsal centre in Eve
Own or work here?