The BBC Philharmonic is reimagining the orchestral experience for a new generation – challenging perceptions, championing innovation, and taking a rich variety of music to the widest range of audiences. Alongside a flagship series of concerts at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall, the orchestra broadcasts concerts on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds from venues across the North of England, annually at the BBC Proms, and from its international tours. It also records regularly for Chandos Records and has produced a catalogue of more than 300 discs and digital downloads. Championing new music, it has recently given world and UK premières of works by Anna Appleby, Gerald Barry, Erland Cooper, Tom Coult, Sebastian Fagerlund, Emily Howard, Robert Laidlow, James Lee III, Grace-Evangeline Mason, David Matthews, Outi Tarkiainen, and Anna Þorvaldsdóttir, the scope of its output extending far beyond standard repertoire. Its Chief Conductor is John Storgårds, with whom the orchestra has enjoyed a long association. The French conductor Ludovic Morlot is its Associate Artist, Anna Clyne, one of the most in-demand composers of the day, its Composer in Association.

In May 2023 the orchestra performed at the Eurovision Song Contest, both at a free concert with the previous Ukrainian winner, Jamala, and in the final itself with the Italian artist Mahmood for a rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine during the Liverpool Songbook medley. The orchestra continues to deliver a programme of engagement with children and young people. At the end of 2023 it released Musical Storyland, a major new 10-part series featuring the musicians of the BBC Philharmonic, which brings famous stories from around the world to life using the power of music. This was the first time an orchestra has been commissioned to make a series of films for UK network television. Through all its activities, the BBC Philharmonic is bringing life-changing musical experiences to audiences across Greater Manchester, the North of England, the UK, and around the world.

www.bbc.co.uk/philharmonic

Glière continued the Russian Romantic tradition in music, following the example of Glazunov. He explored the exotic in his use of material from Georgia and Central Asia, and his contribution to Soviet ballet is significant.

Ballets

The best-known of Glière’s ballet scores are The Red Poppy and The Bronze Horseman, essential and popular elements of Soviet ballet repertoire.

Orchestral Music

Glière’s orchestral compositions include three symphonies, the third based on the legend of Il’ya Muromets. In the symphonic poem The Zaporozhy Cossacks, as elsewhere, he draws on patriotic history or legend, depicted in colourful musical language.