Inside the BBC Concert Orchestra

 Versatility is the BBC Concert Orchestra’s hallmark. 

BBC Concert Orchestra musicians think nothing of starting a week with a concert celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain at RAF Northolt, then a tribute to Oliver! composer Lionel Bart fronted by Barbara Windsor at the Hackney Empire, and finishing with a sell-out Queen Elizabeth Hall gig of avant-garde electronica.

The orchestra’s commitment to BBC Radio 2 is genuinely legendary. They have been delivering the world’s longest-running music show, "Friday Night is Music Night," every week for an astonishing 60 years. The ensemble also broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and has provided the soundtrack to many BBC TV programs, including "The Blue Planet," "Frozen Planet," "Walking with Dinosaurs" and "ZingZillas." 

The BBC Concert Orchestra's current Composer in Association is none other than Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood. The orchestra premiered Greenwood 's "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" in 2005 and more recently "Doghouse."

In August 2010, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Keith Lockhart was appointed principal conductor and Johannes Wildner its principal guest conductor, complementing conductor laureate Barry Wordsworth. 

2013 U.S. Tour

The BBC Concert Orchestra is headed out on its 2013 U.S. Tour and will make its first appearance at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, Wisconsin on Tuesday, February 5. Tickets start at $35 and are on sale now at foxcitiespac.com!

Sources: cami.com and bbc.co.uk