The BBC Northern Orchestra, now known as the BBC Philharmonic, is a classical music ensemble based in Manchester, England. The orchestra was founded in 1934 by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) as a radio orchestra to serve the northern region of England. The orchestra's first conductor was the Hungarian-born conductor and composer, Hermann Scherchen. In its early years, the orchestra performed mainly for radio broadcasts, but it also gave live concerts in Manchester and other cities in the north of England. The orchestra's repertoire included a wide range of classical music, from Baroque to contemporary, and it quickly gained a reputation for its high standards of performance. Over the years, the orchestra has had many distinguished conductors, including George Hurst, Edward Downes, Yan Pascal Tortelier, and Gianandrea Noseda. Each of these conductors brought their own unique style and interpretation to the orchestra, and helped to shape its sound and reputation. One of the highlights of the orchestra's early years was its performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 1945, which was broadcast live to the nation on VE Day. The performance was conducted by Sir Adrian Boult, one of the most respected conductors of his time, and it was a powerful symbol of hope and renewal after the devastation of World War II. In the 1960s and 1970s, the orchestra began to expand its repertoire and to perform more contemporary music. It also began to tour internationally, and it gained a reputation as one of the finest orchestras in the UK. In 1982, the orchestra was renamed the BBC Philharmonic, and it became a full-time professional orchestra. Since then, it has continued to perform a wide range of classical music, from the traditional repertoire to contemporary works by living composers. One of the highlights of the orchestra's recent history was its performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in 2010, which was conducted by Gianandrea Noseda and featured a cast of over 500 performers. The performance was hailed as a triumph, and it cemented the orchestra's reputation as one of the finest in the world. The BBC Philharmonic has also won many awards over the years, including several Gramophone Awards and a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. These awards are a testament to the orchestra's high standards of performance and its commitment to excellence. Today, the BBC Philharmonic continues to perform regularly in Manchester and other cities in the UK, and it also tours internationally. Its members are some of the finest musicians in the world, and they are dedicated to bringing the beauty and power of classical music to audiences around the globe.

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