Our story: 80 years of the Philharmonia
We’ve distilled down our 80 years of history into this bitesize timeline – a whistle-stop trip through decades of musical inspiration. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
Delving into the Philharmonia’s archive unearths a rich treasure trove of conducting legends, iconic composers, soundtracks from some of the biggest films of all time, digital ingenuity and even a trip into interstellar space…
1945
Summer
The Philharmonia Orchestra is founded as the ‘Philharmonia Concert Society’ by EMI Producer Walter Legge. Within months the orchestra enjoys a successful run of recordings.
27 October 1945
The first Philharmonia Concert, at London’s Kingsway Hall. It is conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, who immediately falls out with Walter Legge.
Walter Legge, founder of the Philharmonia Orchestra
Richard Strauss conducting the Philharmonia in 1947
1946
The Philharmonia records its first film soundtrack, Captive Heart starring Michael Redgrave, starting the Orchestra’s rich pedigree of film soundtracks.
1947
In a major coup for such a young orchestra, the Philharmonia is conducted by none other than Richard Strauss in a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The programme includes Don Juan, Symphonia Domestica and Rondo Burlesque (a concert which is replicated in our birthday celebrations in June 2026).
1950
The association with Strauss continues with the World Premiere of his Four Last Songs at the Royal Albert Hall, with Wilhelm Furtwängler conducting.
1951
The Royal Festival Hall opens and members of the Philharmonia take part in the inaugural concert, with Otto Klemperer conducting two further Philharmonia Concerts as part of the celebrations.
The world premiere of Strauss's Four Last Songs, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler
Herbert von Karajan conducting the Philharmonia
1952
The Philharmonia makes the first-ever complete recording of Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler and starring Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
May
The first European tour takes place, with concerts in cities including Paris, Zürich, Milan, Munich, Vienna and Berlin. Herbert von Karajan, whom Legge had first tempted to work with the orchestra a few years previously, conducts throughout.
1952
The pace of the Philharmonia’s fame and achievements continues at breakneck speed. The legendary conductor Arturo Toscanini conducts for the first time. Known for his volcanic temper musicians are (highly unusually) seated a full 20 minutes before the first rehearsal. Toscanini later said that for the first time he felt he was not a conductor but “merely a musician making music with fellow musicians”. The same year he goes on to record all of Brahms’s Symphonies with the orchestra.
Arturo Toscanini
Celebrating the Philharmonia's 10th birthday in New York, 1955
1954
Herbert Von Karajan conducts the Philharmonia is the first-ever recording of all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies recorded as a whole.
1955
The first-ever USA tour, 24 concerts across 4 weeks, conducted by Karajan. Such is the quality of the concerts that the New York Philharmonic is rumoured to launch an enquiry into its own standards…
1959
A 29 year old Lorin Maazel makes his debut with the orchestra, and Otto Klemperer is made Conductor for Life.
1963
The first-ever Latin American tour of any British Orchestra includes performances of The Fairy’s Kiss, conducted by none other than the composer himself, Igor Stravinsky, then aged 81.
Igor Stravinsky and Hugh Bean (leader of the Philharmonia Orchestra)
New Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Festival Hall
1964
In a shock move, Walter Legge disbands the Philharmonia after falling out with his employer EMI, becoming frustrated with what he saw as unwanted bureaucracy and worried about increased competition in a booming cultural scene.
A week later it is re-established by the players under the name the ‘New Philharmonia Orchestra’. The Orchestra gives its first performance under the new name on 27 October 1964 and the Orchestra would later return to its original name.
1965
Igor Stravinsky returns to conduct. The applause goes on for so long he takes the final curtain call in his overcoat!
1970
Lorin Maazel is appointed Associate Conductor.
Lorin Maazel conducting the Philharmonia
Rehearsing with Riccardo Muti
1972
Following a recommendation from Herbert von Karajan, Riccardo Muti becomes the Orchestra’s Principal Conductor.
1977
Vladimir Ashkenazy conducts the Philharmonia for the first time.
The Philharmonia’s recordings go into space, with our recordings of the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 carried aboard the Voyager I and II spacecraft. 48 years later the spacecraft, and our recordings, are far beyond the reaches of the solar system, and in interstellar space.
1979
Riccardo Muti accepts the position of Music Director, succeeding Otto Klemperer.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales becomes the Orchestra’s Patron. As King, he remains associated to this day in the same role.
The Prince of Wales (now King of England), the Philharmonia's Patron
Vladimir Ashkenazy conducting Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in Adelaide
1980
Our still-running series Music of Today, which champions new music and composers, is launched.
1981
Ashkenazy becomes Principal Guest Conductor and ‘celebrates’ by conducting 20 concerts in one month!
The Orchestra plays at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
1983
Esa-Pekka Salonen makes his debut, stepping in for an indisposed Michael Tilson Thomas at short notice and conducting Mahler’s Symphony No. 3. He’s made Principal Guest Conductor that same year.
Giuseppe Sinopoli becomes Principal Conductor.
Giuseppe Sinopoli and the Philharmonia
Pavarotti performs with the Philharmonia
1988
David Whelton becomes Managing Director, a position he was to hold for an incredible 29 years.
1991
Braving torrential rain, Pavarotti joins the Philharmonia for a concert in Hyde Park, with Princess Diana in attendance.
1993
The Philharmonia becomes resident orchestra at Paris’s Théâtre du Châtelet.
1994
Christoph von Dohnányi becomes Principal Guest Conductor.
Théâtre du Châtelet, Paris
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
1995
The Philharmonia becomes a Resident Orchestra of the Royal Festival Hall, and launches its Residency at Bedford’s Corn Exchange the same year.
1996
The Philharmonia launches its residency at De Montfort Hall, Leicester.
1997
Christoph von Dohnányi is appointed Principal Conductor
2000
Having recorded the soundtrack to Disney’s Fantasia, the Orchestra sets off on a global tour to promote the film, with concerts in Tokyo, Paris and New York.
Christoph von Dohnányi in rehearsal
Gustavo Dudamel
2001
The Orchestra records its very first video game soundtrack, for EA Games’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
2005
Gustavo Dudamel takes part in the Allianz Cultural Foundations Conductors’ Academy, conducting the Philharmonia as part of it. Today he is one of the world’s most sought-after conductors and is Music Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
2007
250,000 people visit the Philharmonia’s very first interactive installation, PLAY.orchestra.
The Philharmonia Chorus celebrates its 50th birthday with a concert at Westminster Cathedral conducted by Riccardo Muti.
2008
It’s all change, with Christoph von Dohnányi becoming Honorary Conductor for Life and Esa-Pekka Salonen stepping into his shoes as Principal Conductor.
PLAY.orchestra
RE-RITE
2009
The Orchestra’s digital work steps up a gear with the launch of RE-RITE, an immersive installation offering a walk-though experience of the Orchestra playing Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. The installation has since travelled far and wide – with 95,000 visiting during a visit to Tianjn, China.
The Orchestra’s affinity with the music of Strauss continues with a recording of Till Eulenspiegel and Ein Heldenleben, on the orchestra’s recently-launched own label.
2010
The 65th Birthday of the Orchestra is marked with a concert conducted by Riccardo Muti.
2011
The Philharmonia’s flagship School’s programme, Orchestra Unwrapped, launches and continues to this day, having introduced tens of thousands to the joy of live orchestral music.
Orchestra Unwrapped in London, 2025
Lorin Maazel and the Philharmonia in 2011
2011
Another Residency is added to the roster, this time at Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre.
Lorin Maazel returns to the orchestra for a mammoth task – conducting a complete cycle of Mahler’s Symphonies. Performances take place across the UK and Europe, with 27 concerts in 16 cities.
2012
Esa-Pekka Salonen runs with the Olympic Torch as part of the London 2012 Torch Relay.
Universe of Sound: The Planets is the latest immersive installation from the Philharmonia and runs for four months at London’s Science Museum as part of the 2012 Festival that ran alongside The Olympic Games. It went on to tour the UK in 2013 and 2015.
Esa-Pekka Salonen running with the Olympic torch as part of the London 2012 Olympic celebrations
Philharmonia Sessions at Battersea Arts Centre
2015
The Avengers: The Age of Ultron was one of the highest grossing films of all time – and guess who records the Soundtrack for it? The Philharmonia.
2020-21
With the 75th anniversary season cancelled due to the Pandemic, we once again embrace technology and stream our performances, performing to a global audience of over half a million people.
2021
Santtu-Matias Rouvali becomes our Principal Conductor.
2023
Continuing a now long standing tradition of performing at Royal events, members of the Philharmonia perform at the Coronation of our Patron, HM King Charles III.
Santtu-Matias Rouvali
Herbert Blomstedt conducting the Philharmonia in 2024
2024
The legendary conductor Herbert Blomstedt conducts a performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 at the age of 97, to a sold-out Royal Festival Hall.
2025
50 years since his first concert with us, Riccardo Muti conduct’s Verdi’s Requiem in a sold-out Royal Festival Hall performance.
2025
We celebrate our 80th birthday!
We mark the anniversary with concert programmes that nod to our history, a deep-dive into the theme of identity, and by setting up new initiatives such as Philharmonia Social, 80 free tickets for first-time bookers, and 80 volunteers.
