The RPO is thrilled to welcome its new Music Director, Vasily Petrenko.
His appointment stands as a major landmark in the Orchestra’s history and together they will pursue a strategy to broaden the audience for orchestral music while enhancing the RPO's reputation as one of the world’s most versatile and in demand ensembles.
‘The RPO was on rousing form… [and] left a stirring and exalting impression, as this music should.’ Classical Source, BBC
As the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) celebrates its 75th Anniversary in 2021, its mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence and inclusive in their appeal, places the RPO at the forefront of music-making in the UK.
Dutch–Italian Cecilia Bernardini is considered to be one of the most versatile violinists of her generation, specializing in historically informed practice on period instruments. Cecilia has performed in many of Europe’s most prestigious concert halls, including the Royal Albert Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Musikverein Vienna, Konzerthaus Berlin and Wigmore Hall, as a soloist or as a chamber musician or artistic director.
In 2012 Cecilia was appointed leader of the Dunedin Consort.
Dunedin Consort is one of the world's leading Baroque ensembles, recognised for its vivid and insightful performances and recordings. Formed in 1995 and named after Din Eidyn, the ancient Celtic name for Edinburgh Castle, Dunedin Consort’s ambition is to allow listeners to hear early music afresh, and commissioning and performing new music. Under the direction of John Butt, the ensemble has earned two coveted Gramophone Awards for the 2007 recording of Handel’s Messiah.
Simon read music at King’s College, Cambridge before studying piano accompaniment with Michael Dussek at the Royal Academy of Music and later with Ruben Lifschitz at the Fondation Royaumont. He is a currently professor of collaborative piano and a vocal repertoire coach at the Royal College of Music, London where he also in charge of the collaborative piano course. Since 2003 he has been an official accompanist for the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.
Known for her vivid portrayals of Puccini heroines, and for her full, distinctive voice, London-born Elizabeth Llewellyn has quickly risen through the ranks since making her operatic debut as Mimi in ENO's La Boheme in 2010, and she has established herself internationally as a dramatic and vocal artist of distinction. Her debut solo album of songs by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, released in May 2021 on Orchid Classics, received 4- and 5-star reviews, and was the Sunday Times’ “Album of the Week”.
Dunedin Consort is one of the world's leading Baroque ensembles, recognised for its vivid and insightful performances and recordings. Formed in 1995 and named after Din Eidyn, the ancient Celtic name for Edinburgh Castle, Dunedin Consort’s ambition is to allow listeners to hear early music afresh, and commissioning and performing new music. Under the direction of John Butt, the ensemble has earned two coveted Gramophone Awards for the 2007 recording of Handel’s Messiah.
John Butt is Gardiner Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow and Musical Director of Edinburgh’s Dunedin Consort. John Butt’s conducting engagements with the Dunedin Consort (2003 –) have included major Baroque and Classical repertory and several new commissions In 2013 he was awarded the medal of the Royal College of Organists and the OBE for his services to music in Scotland.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra aims to place orchestral music at the heart of contemporary society, collaborating with creative partners to foster a deeper engagement with communities to ensure that live orchestral music is accessible to as inclusive and diverse an audience as possible. It's mission to enrich lives through orchestral experiences that are uncompromising in their excellence and inclusive in their appeal, places the RPO at the forefront of music-making in the UK.
The United Strings of Europe (USE) creates profound musical experiences that celebrate diversity and bridge cultural divides. Praised for its original programming and ‘virtuosically expressive’ playing (̣̣̣̣ The Times), the London-based ensemble commissions and arranges music from a variety of musical cultures and backgrounds. Anglo-Lebanese violinist Julian Azkoul is the Artistic Director of the United Strings of Europe.
Anglo-Lebanese violinist Julian Azkoul is the Artistic Director of the United Strings of Europe. He is in demand as a guest player and soloist, appearing as guest director of Camerata Nordica in Sweden and guest leader of Camerata Venia in Switzerland, co-leading UK orchestras including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Hallé and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra