Agon was supposed to be a ballet to end all ballets – that’s what the choreographer George Balanchine wanted to complete his trio of myth-based ballet collaborations with Stravinsky:...
Acknowledged as the UK's foremost musical pioneer, the Philharmonia Orchestra lives at the heart of British musical life. In this film, Simon Oliver (Double Bass & former Chairman)...
On a sunny July morning, the penultimate day of a route that had begun in May, Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Philharmonia Orchestra's Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor picked up the...
RE-RITE, the Philharmonia Orchestra's Digital Residency, allows members of the public to conduct, play and step inside the Philharmonia Orchestra with Esa-Pekka Salonen through audio...
Conductor Richard Hickox discusses the life and works of Vaughan Williams and how he prepares to conduct a complete symphony cycle with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
The Turangalîla-Symphonie was Messiaen's first major international commission, requested by Serge Koussevitzky for the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
The piece was premiered...
Series Advisor, Steven Stucky and Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen both knew the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski well. In this...
Find out how French composers bring a uniquely French version of nature - controlled and crafted to perfection - into their art. Series Advisors Caroline Potter and Caroline Rae discuss...
In this archive film from 2008, the Philharmonia's joint principal flautist speaks with the orchestra's former Guest Principal Conductor, Sir Charles Mackerras, about his remarkable...
Composing a work for organ and orchestra is not an easy task, but celebrated Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho was up to the challenge in her new piece, Maan varjot (Earth's Shadows)....
In this film from 2010, we go behind the scenes of an exciting collaborative project between the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Working with 250 primary school...
A universe in each room, and a forest for his imagination... Journey with us outside Paris to uncover Maurice Ravel’s endlessly creative, boundless world. We travelled to Ravel's...
Series Consultant Julian Johnson takes a look at music and culture in Vienna, 1900-1935, ahead of the Philharmonia's first major project with Esa-Pekka Salonen, City of Dreams (Vienna...
Esa-Pekka Salonen introduces 'The Orchestra' app, with Japanese subtitles.
The Philharmonia Orchestra has appointed two internationally acclaimed conductors, Jakub Hrůša and Santtu-Matias Rouvali, as Principal Guest Conductors. Hrůša and Rouvali take up...
Led by Artistic Director Tim Steiner, Hear and Now is a major intergenerational creative collaboration between the Tibbs Dementia Foundation’s Music 4 Memory, a singing group for...
Second in a series of four biographical films on the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski. This film focuses on the composer's struggle for survival in Warsaw during World War II. Series...
Find out more about remembering the Philharmonia in your Will with Double Bass player, Simon Oliver.
Sarah Connolly speaks about her love of Gustav Mahler's music in anticipation of her performances with the Philharmonia Orchestra which took place on 5 May and 9 October 2011, as part...
Oedipus tears out his own eyes, a terrifying and unforgettable moment. As director of the opera-oratorio Oedipus rex, Peter Sellars talks to us about the human heart of the story. In...
What happened when we brought together young musicians and dancers from southwest London to create their own version of Stravinsky's The Firebird? Find out about this unique and moving...
Step into the world of Duke Bluebeard's Castle and discover the work done behind the scenes to bring the Philharmonia Orchestra's production of Bartók's only opera to life.
Delve into the minds of two musical greats in this short film featuring Esa-Pekka Salonen and Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Join the conductor and pianist as they prepare to perform Ravel's...
Prior to a performance by the Philharmonia Orchestra in 2008, we speak to The Pilgrim's Progress director David Edwards, Chairman of the Vaughan Williams Society Stephen Connock MBE...
In partnership with The Octagon Theatre in Yeovil and inspired by the work of Roald Dahl, Strike a Chord! explores creative music making in the classroom, as well as offering hundreds...
Philharmonia Orchestra Principal percussionist David Corkhill takes us through all the percussion instruments and explains Messiaen's percussion writing.
The composer Claude Debussy had a tumultuous love life, as series advisor Caroline Potter describes during her visit to Debussy's birthplace in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Third in a series of four biographical films on the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski. Series Advisor, Steven Stucky and Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor...
Julian Johnson explores the life and works of Arnold Schoenberg, ahead of the Philharmonia Orchestra's concert series City of Dreams: Vienna 1900-1935.
We visit the Belvedere Gallery in Vienna and Tate Liverpool to discover why there was such an explosion in the arts in Vienna at the turn of the century.
During the early 20th century, in Paris, many of the greatest writers, artists, composers and thinkers came together and changed culture as we know it. Philharmonia Orchestra Principal...
“Of all the string instruments, I guess it’s the greatest compromise…it shouldn’t really exist” – watch Lawrence Power, one of the world's leading violists, reveal the secrets...
Fourth in a series of four biographical films on the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski. Series Advisor, Steven Stucky and Philharmonia Orchestra Principal Conductor and Artistic...
British composer, Tansy Davies, has been commissioned by Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra to compose a concerto for four horns, to premiere as part of the Philharmonia's...
Composer Olivier Messiaen was the organist at La Trinité Church in Paris for over 60 years, and both the organ and the church influenced his life and compositions.
A film of the original choreography created for the 2013/14 Firebird Project featuring dancers from The Royal Ballet School, Feltham Community College and Richmond Park Academy. The...
Conductor Tugan Sokhiev shares how he got his start in music and what challenges and inspires him.
Welcome to the Philharmonia Orchestra: 40 concerts, including live screenings, Sunday Matinees, Christmas concerts, a Chinese New Year Celebration, free events and pre-concert talks...
Discover more about the great trumpet player Håkan Hardenberger and his affinity with the trumpet in this extended interview with Alistair Mackie, the Philharmonia Orchestra's principal...
Esa-Pekka Salonen and pianist Yefim Bronfman meet Dániel Hamar and László Porteleki from Hungary's leading folk music ensemble, Muzsikás. Muzsikás perform traditional Hungarian...
Between November 2015 and 2016, the Philharmonia Orchestra’s Conductor Laureate Vladimir Ashkenazy conducted the Orchestra in a cycle of Rachmaninov’s three symphonies and the Symphonic...
Delve into Stravinsky’s Les Noces with pianists Pierre-Laurent Aimard and Tamara Stefanovich. This striking piece features the rare sight of four pianos on stage, played alongside...
Discover the magic of chamber music with the Philharmonia Orchestra in the Chamber Players series. Hear what playing in a chamber group means to the members of the Orchestra in this...
Trumpeter Håkan Hardenberger, performs a major series, titled The Trumpet Shall Sound, with the Philharmonia Orchestra in December 2015/January 2016. We caught Håkan after his rehearsal...
An extended documentary about the recently-discovered opera by Shostakovich, 'Orango'. It features interviews with Esa-Pekka Salonen, who premiered the work, Gerard McBurney, who orchestrated...
RE-RITE, the Philharmonia Orchestra's digital residency, traveled to Leicester in April 2010, transforming the Old Nursery in the city's Museum Walk into the experience of being inside...
In this interview, Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses Shostakovich's Symphony No 4. Written at a politically turbulent time, during which was published the infamous Pravda article denouncing...
Julian Johnson visits the Royal Festival Hall to find out more about the Philharmonia Orchestra's production of Berg's Wozzeck, which took place in 2009. Julian goes behind the scenes...
The Philharmonia Orchestra's Arts Management Training Programme offers a unique opportunity to gain inside-track experience in this highly competitive field, within one of the world's...
First in a series of four biographical films on the Polish composer, Witold Lutosławski. This film focuses on the composer's early life and beginnings in music. Series Advisor, Steven...
Symphonize Kingston is a collaboration between Kingston Music Service and the Philharmonia Orchestra bringing together skilled urban and classical musicians to deliver intensive, skills-enhancing...
Founded as a recording orchestra in 1945, the Philharmonia continues its reputation today as an exceptional ensemble in the studio, with decades of experience across a huge range of...
As well as teaching a generation of pianists, Béla Bartók published instructive editions of many pieces of core repertoire. In this film, series consultant Malcolm Gillies visits...
A film made as part of the Philharmonia Orchestra's 2008 season celebrating the composer Olivier Messiaen, exploring the use of birdsong in his music, particularly Oiseaux Exotiques.
Based in the Queen's Park neighbourhood of Bedford, Hear and Now is a community-based music project now in its seventh year. In July 2010, the Philharmonia Orchestra, in partnership...
Philharmonia Orchestra violinist Adrián Varela and Tar Shehnai player Kirpal Singh Panesar come together to learn about each other's instrument, techniques, and ensemble playing.
Malcolm Gillies explores Bartók's three stage works: Duke Bluebeard's Castle, The Miraculous Mandarin and The Wooden Prince. This film accompanied the Philhamonia...
In preparation for our final concert of our 14/15 Royal Festival Hall season, First Violin member, Adrián Varela, introduces us to some of the musical forms featured in the concert....
Over the course of three months, composer and project leader Tim Steiner and Philharmonia Orchestra musicians worked with children from five SEN schools and two youth brass bands to...
MusicLab was a pop-up digital installation, filled with a series of hands-on musical games, instruments and videos designed to put the visitor in the shoes of composer, performer...
A short film about Play On, a unique project bringing together pupils and staff from Hounslow and Kingston music services and musicians from the Philharmonia Orchestra which culminated...
The composers Antonín Dvořák and his favourite pupil and son-in-law, Josef Suk, were both influenced by place and close relationships with loved ones. Travel to Prague with conductor...
We visit the Belvedere Gallery in Vienna and Tate Liverpool to discover why there was such an explosion in the arts in Vienna at the turn of the century.
Series Advisor Steven Stucky talks with Philharmonia Orchestra members Samuel Coles (Joint Principal Flute) and Mark van de Wiel (Joint Principal Clarinet) about Witold Lutosławski's...
Dennis Brain was the Philharmonia's Principal Horn from 1945 until his tragic death in 1957. This archive film from our podcast in November 2007 takes a look behind the scenes of the...
In this archive film from 2008, we go behind the scenes at a Philharmonia Orchestra rehearsal with Gustavo Dudamel to see what goes into rehearsing and conducting such an incredible...
The Philharmonia Orchestra were delighted to be invited to the Classical Stage at London Mela 2013, to perform Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's composition 'Samaagam', played on the sarod by...
In the summer of 2017, the Philharmonia Orchestra embarked on a new creative partnership to span five years with Garsington Opera. In this first season the Philharmonia performed Debussy’s...
Gustavo Dudamel works with three young conductors on Mahler's 5th Symphony with the Philharmonia Orchestra as part of the Allianz Conductors' Academy.
Conductor and Composer Carl Davis discusses 'Waterloo', Karl Grune's 1928 film, ahead of a concert with the Philharmonia Orchestra which took place in April 2010.
Pierrette Duncan, née Galeone, played in the 1st and 2nd Violin sections of the Philharmonia Orchestra starting in the 1950s and spent 30 years as a member of the Orchestra. Our current...
Have you ever thought about conducting but been too intimidated to follow through on the idea? Watch this video for Esa-Pekka Salonen's tips on what it takes to become a great conductor...
In 1897 trams were introduced to the streets of Vienna and have remained an integral part of the city ever since. Changes in transport and other areas of technology were constantly...
In this film from our archives, Maestro Lorin Maazel spoke with Classic FM's Anne-Marie Minhall about Mahler's symphonies and orchestral song cycles.
Maestro Vladmir Ashkenazy celebrates the Philharmonia Orchestra's 70th anniversary in this short film. Join him at the Purcell School for Young Musicians as he describes the magic at...
The Philharmonia's latest project brings the experience of the concert hall directly to you in dynamic 3D video. Step into the heart of the symphony orchestra and get the best seat...
Julian Johnson speaks to Michael Molnar from the Freud Museum to find out more about the life and work of Sigmund Freud.
Esa-Pekka Salonen visits the family of Arnold Schoenberg to find out what it was like growing up with the father of serialism.
Actor Simon Russell Beale speaks to Professor Jonathan Cross about Stravinsky's neo-classical opera, Oedipus Rex.
Journey with us from the glamour of Paris to the sun-kissed hills of Hollywood and discover how Igor Stravinsky was able to transform his art throughout his extraordinary life. One...
Malcolm Gillies and Esa-Pekka Salonen explore Béla Bartók's world.
Malcolm Gillies discusses Bartók in relation to other key composers of his time such as Schoenberg
In three new upcoming album releases, the Philharmonia Orchestra and its Conductor Laureate, Vladimir Ashkenazy, present Rachmaninov’s three symphonies and his Symphonic Dances, recorded...
In the early decades of the 20th century, the cafés of Paris's Montparnasse neighbourhood were an extraordinary hub of artistic activity and collaboration, fuelling a remarkable revolution...
The Philharmonia Orchestra has appointed two internationally acclaimed conductors, Santtu-Matias Rouvali and Jakub Hrůša, as Principal Guest Conductors. Hrůša and Rouvali take up...
Julian Johnson explores Mahler's Vienna, from his controversial appointment at the Opera House to his love for the countryside outside the city.
“Of all the string instruments, I guess it’s the greatest compromise…it shouldn’t really exist” – watch Lawrence Power reveal the secrets of the viola in our brand new film...
We visit the Belvedere Gallery in Vienna and Tate Liverpool to discover why there was such an explosion in the arts in Vienna at the turn of the century.
Julian Johnson looks at the social aspects of the changes in Vienna, and how the decline of the Austro-Hungarian empire in combination with other social changes affected the art of...
This spring Vladimir Ashkenazy travelled to Finland to follow in the footsteps of Jean Sibelius.
Join the conductor as he journeys to the heart of Sibelius’ music and...
We speak to Esa-Pekka Salonen about the Philharmonia Orchestra's Digital Residency - RE-RITE - which toured to Tianjin, China in April 2012; and Izmir, Turkey in June 2012. For more...
The Philharmonia Orchestra's Digital team travelled to Florence, Italy to discover the personal story behind Luigi Dallapiccola's opera, Il Prigioniero. Written between 1944 and 1948...
In this feature-length biopic, Series Advisor Steven Stucky and Principal Conductor and Philharmonia Orchestra Artistic Advisor Esa-Pekka Salonen travel to Poland to the explore the...
"I would do this every day if I could."
Symphonize is a pioneering creative partnership between Leicester-based Soft Touch Arts and the Philharmonia Orchestra, resident...
Commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society, Witold Lutosławski's Cello Concerto was written for and premièred by the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich at the Royal Festival...
The Three Choirs Festival is the world's oldest and greatest Choral festival, where the Philharmonia continues their residency. (Film from 2012)
Julian Johnson explores the life and works of Arnold Schoenberg, ahead of the Philharmonia Orchestra's concert series City of Dreams: Vienna 1900-1935.
Esa-Pekka Salonen travels to his home town for the first time with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
We follow him on his journey from Maida Vale Studios to the first night performance...
Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses his thoughts and ideas prior to joining the Philharmonia Orchestra as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor in September 2008.
In this interview, composer Joby Talbot discusses his composition "Worlds, Stars, Systems, Infinity", which was commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra as part of the digital installation...
Robin O'Neill, Principal Bassoon of the Philharmonia Orchestra, knows the famous opening notes of The Rite of Spring intimately and has played them in countless concerts. Watch his...
In Stravinsky’s later life he looked to religion for comfort and inspiration, both directly to his own Russian Orthodox faith, and more widely. Esa-Pekka Salonen reflects on Stravinsky’s...
RE-RITE is the Philharmonia Orchestra’s digital installation based on The Rite of Spring. Through this combination of immersive video and interactive design visitors can experience...
This film featuring Adrián Varela and Tim Steiner introduces 'Creative Orchestra', a Philharmonia education project which has taken place at various schools including those in Bedford...
Esa-Pekka Salonen discusses Messiaen in this film from 2008.
In music and painting, we tend to fix our attention on a few astonishing individuals. But the nature of Viennese culture around 1900 was one of collective energy and vision. We speak...
In this film from 2008, we speak to conductor Richard Hickox about his upcoming performances of Vaughan Williams' semi-staged opera The Pilgrim's Progress with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
In this film, Philharmonia members past and present tell the story of how a last-minute decision by the Orchestra's management 30 years ago ignited what would go on to be a long-lasting...
Malcolm Gillies travels to Béla Bartók’s birthplace in Romania to explore the historical, ethnic, and political tensions that shaped Bartók’s Hungary, and informed him musically....
Stravinsky’s career is punctuated by the retelling of classical myths: Oedipus, Apollon musagète, Persephone, Orpheus, Agon. It was through these myths that Stravinsky found the...
Enjoy this sneak peek of British violist Lawrence Power performing Esa-Pekka Salonen's Pentatonic Étude for solo viola. We release the full, world-premiere recording of this piece...
In this extended feature, Principal Timpanist Andy "Thumper" Smith, described here by a fellow player as a "defining feature of the Philharmonia sound", looks back fondly on his 40...
We're excited to share this world premiere recording of Esa-Pekka Salonen's Pentatonic Étude for solo viola, performed by Lawrence Power. Salonen wrote the piece for Power and it was...
The Philharmonia Orchestra and Darbar have collaborated on an exciting cross-cultural music project called Universal Notes. The new piece was created in a year of workshops in India...
Series consultant Malcolm Gillies introduces us to the Philharmonia's Infernal Dance series, an exploration of the work and life of Belá Bartók. For more information on the series...
We speak to artist Jane Mackay about how synaesthesia affects her artwork, and how it has influenced the incredibly colourful compositions of Olivier Messiaen.
"It might be Scandinavian, but his music is altogether hotter, more volatile and certainly more of a rollercoaster ride." Take a closer look at the life and music of Danish composer...
From just £35 a year, Friends enjoy a variety of benefits in return for their support, that give them exclusive access to the orchestra and its musicians. Find out more about becoming...
Malcolm Gillies and Esa-Pekka Salonen investigate Bartók's role as an ethnomusicologist; how he collected and notated folk music and how this inspired the music he wrote for the concert...
Kenneth Essex is a well-respected session musician from the golden age of freelancing. He's played on a variety of recordings from work with the Philharmonia Orchestra to Fawlty Towers...
Experiences as a stretcher bearer during the First World War, affected Vaughan Williams and the pieces he wrote for the rest of his life.
Julian Johnson explores the life and works of Arnold Schoenberg, as part of the Philharmonia Orchestra's concert series City of Dreams: Vienna 1900-1935.
The Marlowe and the Philharmonia Orchestra announced the Orchestra's residency at the venue in November 2011. The residency, the first by a major symphony orchestra...
Julian Johnson looks at the effect popular Viennese culture had on composers at the turn of the century.
A film created by the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, documenting a groundbreaking inception of the re-rite project which took place in 2013, set in a multi-storey car park which forms part...
We go behind the scenes as the Orchestra records the music for the new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Video Game.
Find out more about how music for games is composed...
In 2012 Esa-Pekka Salonen completed a Beethoven symphonic series with the Philharmonia Orchestra, culminating in a complete symphony cycle at the Beethovenfest in October 2012. In this...
On the occasion of our 70th birthday, we're thrilled to share this special interview between Maestro Christoph von Dohnányi, our Honorary Conductor for Life, and writer and broadcaster...
An interview with composer and conductor George Benjamin on his forthcoming performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra and studying composition in Paris with Olivier Messiaen.
Hungarian folk ensemble Muzsikás perform three traditional pieces for us before going onstage at the Valley of the Arts music festival in Kapolcs, Western Hungary. Muzsikás performed...
Esa-Pekka Salonen travels to New York to see where Belá Bartók spent his final years. Throughout 2011, Esa-Pekka Salonen travelled throughout the UK and Europe, undergoing a major...
Go on a journey with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the Philharmonia Orchestra to Paris, as they prepare for a particularly special performance of the Rite of Spring at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées...
Paris was the place to be in the first half of the 20th century, full stop.
An introduction to the Philharmonia Orchestra's concert series City of Light: Paris, 1900-1950...
In this episode of the Infernal Dance series, Malcolm Gillies and Esa-Pekka Salonen delve deeper into Bartók's collection and use of folk songs. We trace Bartók’s journey from recording...
This extended documentary goes behind the scenes at the Philharmonia Orchestra's Universe of Sound project, from conception to completion. For more information on the project, please...
The Orchestra is an extraordinary new app from Touchpress that will delight anyone with even a passing interest in classical music. Esa-Pekka Salonen conducts the world-renowned Philharmonia...
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