Editing English Chamber Orchestra

{{for|the orchestra in London, Ontario|Orchestra London Canada}}
{{Short description|British symphony orchestra}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox orchestra
| image = File:CS2 3811-CR3 DxO DeepPRIME-10.jpg
| founded = 1948
| concert_hall = [[Cadogan Hall]], [[Wigmore Hall]]
| music_director = Stephanie Gonley
| website = {{URL|https://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk}}
}}

The '''English Chamber Orchestra (ECO)''' is a British [[chamber orchestra]] based in [[London]]. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at [[Cadogan Hall]], and their ensemble performs at [[Wigmore Hall]]. With a limited performance size, the orchestra specializes in 18th-century music and was created to perform [[Baroque music|Baroque Music]].<ref>{{cite web |title=English Chamber Orchestra - Bach, Handel, Telemann |url=https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/english-chamber-orchestra-bach-handel-telemann |website=Warner Classics |date=13 January 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref> The orchestra regularly tours in the UK and internationally, and holds the distinction of having the most extensive discography of any chamber orchestra and being the most well-traveled orchestra in the world; no other orchestra has played concerts (as of 2013, according to its own publicity) in as many countries as the English Chamber Orchestra.<ref>[http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/bio.php]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518031811/http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/bio.php|date=May 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=English Chamber Orchestra - Bach, Handel, Telemann |url=https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/english-chamber-orchestra-bach-handel-telemann |website=Warner Classics |date=13 January 2023 |access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=English Chamber Orchestra / José Serebrier, conductor / Jennifer Pike, violin |url=https://journalofmusic.com/listing/20-09-16/english-chamber-orchestra-jose-serebrier-conductor-jennifer-pike-violin |website=The Journal of Music |access-date=February 13, 2024}}</ref>

==History==

The English Chamber Orchestra has its origins in the '''Goldsbrough Orchestra''', founded in 1948 by [[Lawrence Leonard]] and Arnold Goldsbrough. The name was considered to prevent success outside of the UK and in 1960 it was changed to the English Chamber Orchestra, when Quintin Ballardie (a principal violinist with the original orchestra) invited Dr. Ursula Jones-Strebi to found and co-manage the new orchestra,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Chong |first1=Derrick |last2=Trappey |first2=Randolph J. |date=2001 |title=Privately Held and Managing Well: The English Chamber Orchestra at 40 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41064720 |journal=International Journal of Arts Management |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=16–26 |jstor=41064720 |issn=1480-8986}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= English Chamber Orchestra &#124;|url=https://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/?/news/lawrence-power-appointed-as-artistic-director-of-the-english-chamber-o |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> where they also expanded its repertoire beyond the [[baroque music|Baroque]] period for the first time. Its repertoire remained limited by the group's size, which has stayed fairly consistently at around the size of an orchestra of [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]]'s time.

Shortly afterwards, it became closely associated with the [[Aldeburgh Festival]], playing in the premieres of [[Benjamin Britten]]'s ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream (opera)|A Midsummer Night's Dream]]'' (1960), ''[[Owen Wingrave]]'' (1970), ''[[Curlew River]]'' and several other of his works. The occasions on which Britten conducted the orchestra included the opening concerts of the [[Queen Elizabeth Hall]] and [[Snape Maltings]] in 1967.<ref name="ECO">{{Cite web |url=http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/about/history |title=History: Britten and the ECO |access-date=2018-04-01}}</ref> He also made a number of records with the group.

The orchestra did not at this time have a principal conductor, but worked closely with a succession of guest conductors including [[Raymond Leppard]], [[Colin Davis]] and [[Daniel Barenboim]]. In 1985 [[Jeffrey Tate]] was appointed the ensemble's first principal conductor.  In 2000, [[Ralf Gothóni]] was appointed second principal conductor.

In June 2009, the English Chamber Orchestra named [[Paul Watkins (musician)|Paul Watkins]] its new [[music director]], effective with the 2009–2010 season, for an initial contract of three years.<ref>Martin Cullingford, "Paul Watkins named ECO music director".  ''Gramophone'', 19 June 2009.</ref> The orchestra has also worked regularly with guest conductors [[Paul Goodwin (conductor)|Paul Goodwin]], [[Lawrence Power]] and [[James Sherlock]]. In 2023, the orchestra appointed [[:fr:Roberto For%C3%A9s Veses|Roberto Forés Veses]] as Principal Guest Conductor. Having led the orchestra for over 30 years, Stephanie Gonley was recognised as Leader and Principal of the English Chamber Orchestra in 2023. 

==Tours and performances==

The orchestra has performed with and toured the UK and abroad with artists such as [[Kathleen Battle]], [[Benjamin Britten]], [[Daniel Barenboim]], [[Dame Janet Baker]], [[Colin Davis]], [[Plácido Domingo|Placido Domingo]], [[Jacqueline du Pré|Jacqueline du Pre]], [[Sumi Jo]], [[Kiri Te Kanawa|Kiri te Kanawa]], [[Yehudi Menuhin]], [[Luciano Pavarotti]], [[Murray Perahia]], [[Itzhak Perlman]], [[André Previn|Andre Previn]], [[Karl Richter (conductor)|Karl Richter]], [[Mstislav Rostropovich]], [[Georg Solti]], [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Mitsuko Uchida]], [[Maxim Vengerov]] and [[Pinchas Zukerman]].
Recent tours have included Bermuda, USA, Mexico, Finland, France, Turkey, Switzerland, Italy and Germany.

HRH the former Prince of Wales has been the Patron of the ECO since 1977 and the orchestra has performed at royal weddings, birthday celebrations and other events including the first concert ever to be broadcast from Buckingham Palace. 

In 2023 members of the orchestra were selected to play at the [[coronation of Charles III and Camilla]].<ref>{{cite web |date=16 April 2023 |title=Buckingham Palace is pleased to announce further details of the twelve new compositions that have been written for the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May 2023. |url=https://www.royal.uk/coronation-music-commissions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416081854/https://www.royal.uk/coronation-music-commissions |archive-date=16 April 2023 |access-date=11 May 2023 |work=The Royal Family}}</ref>

==Select recordings==

===Symphonies===
*[[Beethoven]], 9 Symphonies under [[Michael Tilson Thomas]], Sony Classical (compilation, 2020)
*[[Haydn]], Symphonies 22, 39, 47 (1968), 48 & 70 (1971), 26, 34, 77 (1972), under [[Raymond Leppard]], Philips 
*Haydn, Symphonies 94, 101 (1981), 94, 100 (1995), 101, 104 (1994), under [[Jean-François Paillard]], RCA 
*Haydn, Symphonies 93, 96, 98 - 104, under [[Jeffrey Tate]], EMI (1986, 1992, 1997, 1999) 
*Haydn, Symphonies 44, 45, 48, 49, under [[Daniel Barenboim]], Deutsche Grammophon (1979, compilation, 2012)
*[[Mozart]], Symphonies 25, 29, 38 & 40, under [[Benjamin Britten]], Decca (1978) recipient of [[Gramophone Award]]
*Mozart, Symphonies 1 - 41, under Jeffrey Tate, EMI (1990)
*Mozart, Symphonies 39, 40, 41, under Jean-François Paillard, RCA (1994) 
*Mozart, Symphonies 29, 30, 31, 34, 38 & 39, under Daniel Barenboim, EMI (2007)

===Concertos===
*[[Albinoni]], [[Petronio Franceschini|Franceschini]], [[Valentin Rathgeber|Rathgeber]], [[Telemann]], [[Antonio Vivaldi|Vivaldi]], Trumpet Concertos, with Hannes, Wolfgang & Bernhard Läubin under [[Simon Preston]], Deutsche Grammophone (1992) 
*Bach, Brandenburg Concertos 1 - 6, under [[Benjamin Britten]], Decca (1969) 
*Bach, The Brandenburg Concertos, under Johannes Somary, Vanguard (2008) 
*Bach, Violin Concertos, with [[Anne-Sophie Mutter]] and [[Salvatore Accardo]], EMI (1983)
*Bach, Violin Concertos, with [[Itzhak Perlman]] and [[Pinchas Zukerman]] under [[Daniel Barenboim]], EMI (1986) 
*Bach, Violin Concertos and Triple Concerto, with [[Arthur Grumiaux]] under [[Raymond Leppard]], Philips (1964) 
*Beethoven, Violin Concerto, with [[Frank Peter Zimmermann]] under Jeffrey Tate, EMI (1988) 
*[[Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber|Biber]], [[Pachelbel]], Telemann, Vivaldi, Baroque music for trumpets , with [[Wynton Marsalis]] under Raymond Lappard, Sony (1988) 
*[[Handel]], Twelve Grand Concertos, under [[Raymond Leppard]], Philips (1968) 
*Haydn, Cello Concerto, with [[Mstislav Rostropovich]] under [[Benjamin Britten]], Decca (1964)
*Haydn, [[Luigi Boccherini|Boccherini]], Cello Concertos, with [[Jacqueline du Pré|Jacqueline Du Pré]] under Daniel Barenboim, EMI (1967)
*Haydn, Cello Concertos, with [[Yo-Yo Ma]], Sony Classical (1986)
*Haydn, [[C. P. E. Bach]], [[Boccherini]], Cello Concertos with [[Matt Haimovitz]] under [[Andrew Davis (conductor)|Andrew Davis]], Deutsche Grammophon (1990) 
*Haydn, Boccherini, Cello Concertos, with [[Lluís Claret]] under [[George Malcolm (musician)|George Malcolm]], Harmonica Mundi (1992) 
*[[Mendelssohn]], [[Max Bruch|Bruch]], Violin Concertos, with [[Nigel Kennedy]] under Jeffrey Tate, EMI (1988)
*Mozart, Complete Piano Concertos, with [[Murray Perahia]] as pianist and conductor (Sony, compilation 2012). Recipient of [[Gramophone Award]].
*Mozart, Complete Piano Concertos, with [[Daniel Barenboim]] as pianist and conductor (Warner Classics, compilation 2016)
*Mozart, Complete Piano Concertos, with [[Mitsuko Uchida]] under [[Jeffrey Tate]], Philips (Decca, compilation 2006)
*Mozart, Piano Concerto No. 19 & 24, with [[Maurizio Pollini]] as pianist and conductor (1982)
*Mozart, Violin Concertos No. 3 & 5, with [[Joshua Bell]] under [[Peter Maag]] (1992) 
*Mozart, Sinfonia Concertante, with [[Isaac Stern]] and Pinchas Zukerman under Daniel Barenboim, Columbia Masterworks (1972)
*Mozart, [[Josef Mysliveček|Myslivecek]], Flute Concertos. Ana de la Vega. [[Pentatone (record label)|PENTATONE]] PTC 5186723 (2018)
*Mozart, Concertone For 2 Violins, Oboe & Violoncello, under [[Sir Colin Davis]], London Records (1961) 
*Mozart, Flute Concertos, with [[Karlheinz Zöller]] under [[Bernhard Klee]], Deutsche Grammophon (1974) 
*Mozart, Clarinet Concerto, with [[Richard Stoltzman]] under [[Alexander Schneider]], RCA (1981)
*Mozart, Horn Concertos 1-4, with [[Barry Tuckwell]] as horn player and conductor, Decca (1984)
*[[Antonio Vivaldi|Vivaldi]], Four Seasons, with [[Nigel Kennedy]] as violinist and conductor, EMI (1997) 
*Vivaldi, Four Seasons, with [[Pinchas Zukerman]] as violinist and conductor (1987, 1988, 1996)

===Opera, Cantatas, Songs and Arias===
*The Beautiful Voice (works by Gounod, Lehár, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Strauss) with [[Renée Fleming]] as soloist under Jeffrey Tate, Decca (1998)
*Bel Canto (works by Bellini, Puccini, Rossini and Verdi) with [[Sumi Jo]] under Giuliano Carella, Erato (1997) 
*[[Joseph Canteloube|Canteloube]], Chants D'Auvergne, with [[Kiri Te Kanawa]] under Jeffrey Tate, Decca (1983, 1984)
*[[Donizetti]], [[L'elisir d'amore|L'Elisir D'Amore]], with [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Luciano Pavarotti]], [[Dominic Cossa]], [[Spiro Malas]], Maria Casula under [[Richard Bonynge]], London Records (1971) 
*[[Gluck]], Arias, with Janet Baker under Raymond Leppard, Philips (1975) 
*Handel, Cantatas, with [[Janet Baker]] under Raymond Leppard, Philips (1973) 
*Handel, [[Semele (Handel)|Semele]], with [[Kathleen Battle]], [[Marilyn Horne]], [[Samuel Ramey]], [[John Aler]], [[Sylvia McNair]], [[Michael Chance]] and [[Ambrosian Opera Chorus]] under [[John Nelson (conductor)|John Nelson]], Deutsche Grammophon (1993) 
*Mozart, Handel, Arias, with [[Lucia Popp]] under Georg Fischer, HMV (1967) 
*Mozart, Arias, with Kiri Te Kanawa under Jeffrey Tate, Philips (1987, 1988) 
*Mozart, Opera & Concert Arias, with [[Barbara Hendricks]] under Jeffrey Tate, EMI (1984) 
*Mozart, [[Don Giovanni]], with [[Joan Sutherland]], [[Pilar Lorengar]], [[Marilyn Horne]], [[Gabriel Bacquier]], [[Werner Krenn]], [[Donald Gramm]], and [[Ambrosian Opera Chorus]] under [[Richard Bonynge]], London Records (1971) 
*Mozart, [[Le Nozze Di Figaro]], with [[Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau]] and other soloists under Daniel Barenboim, EMI (1977) 
*[[Rossini]], [[Il Signor Bruschino]], with Kathleen Battle, Samuel Ramey, [[Frank Lopardo]], [[Claudio Desderi]] under [[Ion Marin]], Deutsche Grammophone (1993)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.englishchamberorchestra.co.uk/ English Chamber Orchestra homepage]

{{London orchestras}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1948]]
[[Category:London orchestras]]
[[Category:Chamber orchestras]]
[[Category:1948 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Benjamin Britten]]