BBC Concert Orchestra

Keith Lockhart, Principal Conductor
Orchestras

Manager: Tim Fox
Management Territory: USA

“Its style is gutsy…The ensemble is solid, not flashy…The orchestra knew its way around the score.” —Los Angeles Times (Review from 2013 Tour)

“The BBC Concert Orchestra and its principal conductor Keith Lockhart offered a refreshing program of British music…The orchestra…brought a brilliant but never brittle sound to bear, the woodwinds standing out in shining light…Lockhart showed himself to be an admirable and conscientious musician, coaxing lyrical lines and flow all evening, pointing up details and forging solid structures in well-tailored readings…Still, the performance of Elgar’s ‘Enigma Variations’ had much to cherish, particularly in Lockhart’s warm and vivid characterization of each variation, each a portrait of one of the composer’s friends…[Sophie Shao’s] playing highlighted the delicate and spare aspects of this autumnal music. Lockhart and the orchestra supported her handsomely.” —Orange County Register (Review 2013 Tour)

“The BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Keith Lockhart, played amazing pieces of classical music. The works of composers Benjamin Britten, Edward Elgar and George Butterworth were featured as the orchestra played to a packed house…The sounds of the orchestra were dramatic and perfectly executed.” —Daily Sundial (Review from 2013 Tour)

About

The BBC Concert Orchestra is pleased to announce a tour of North America in the spring of 2015.

The BBC Concert Orchestra is one of the UK’s most versatile ensembles. Since 1952 the orchestra has been the house orchestra for BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night. They give regular broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and helped surprise BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles on his birthday breakfast show, as well as performing at The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert. Its many soundtrack recordings include those for BBC TV’s Frozen Planet and BBC Films’ . . . Salmon Fishing in the Yemen.

Keith Lockhart is the orchestra's Principal Conductor and Johannes Wildner is Principal Guest Conductor, complementing Conductor Laureate Barry Wordsworth. Keith has been Conductor of the Boston Pops for eighteen seasons and Johannes came to the job with over a decade’s experience with the Vienna Philharmonic. Arranger and jazz trumpeter Guy Barker has recently been appointed as the orchestra’s Associate Composer. The position was previously held by Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and the Art of Noise's Anne Dudley.

A regular at the BBC Proms, last year the orchestra performed in the Desert Island Discs 70th-Anniversary Prom. As always, on the last night they were outdoors for Proms in the Park. An Artistic Partner Orchestra for Southbank Centre’s The Rest Is Noise, the BBC Concert Orchestra performs eight concerts throughout 2013, encompassing music from World War One to Britain in the 1980s.

The orchestra performs regularly at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, and Watford Colosseum. Working with schools, colleges and a wide range of community groups around the country remains high on the orchestra’s learning agenda. This year will see the orchestra work with the Alzheimer’s Society to be part of their Singing for the Brain project.

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