Royal Philharmonic Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Royal Philharmonic Society is a British music society, formed in 1813. It was originally formed in London to promote performances of instrumental music there. Many distinguished composers have taken part in its concerts. It is now a membership society, and while it no longer has its own orchestra, it continues to promote concerts of new music. The society's Gold Medal for outstanding musicianship is awarded only occasionally.
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[edit] History
In London, at a time when there were no permanent London orchestras, nor organised series of chamber music concerts, a group of professional musicians formed the Philharmonic Society of London on January 24, 1813. The society's aim was "to promote the performance, in the most perfect manner possible of the best and most approved instrumental music". The first concert on March 8, 1813 was presided over by Johann Peter Salomon, with Muzio Clementi at the piano, and included symphonies by Joseph Haydn and Ludwig van Beethoven.
The society asked Beethoven to come to London, but the composer's health prevented his accepting the invitation. However the society's request for a new symphony from him resulted in the Choral Symphony. In 1827 Beethoven wrote to the society outlining his straitened circumstances; at a special general meeting the society resolved to send the composer £100 immediately (George Bernard Shaw once referred to this as "the only creditable incident in English history"). Other works written for the society include the Italian Symphony by Felix Mendelssohn. Distinguished conductors included Hector Berlioz, who conducted a concert of his works in 1853, Richard Wagner, who conducted the whole 1855 season of orchestral concerts, and Tchaikovsky, who conducted his own works in 1888 and 1893.
The society became the Royal Philharmonic Society during its 100th concert season in 1912, and continued organising concerts through the two world wars. It is now a membership society which "seeks to create a future for music through the encouragement of creativity, the recognition of excellence and the promotion of understanding."
[edit] The Gold Medal
The Gold Medal was first awarded in 1871. The medal depicts the profile of a bust of Beethoven by Schaller which was presented to the society in 1870, Beethoven's centenary. It is awarded for "outstanding musicianship", and is given rarely — by 2005 it had been awarded to a total of fewer than 90 musicians.
[edit] Recipients
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[edit] Honorary membership
Through awarding honorary membership the society recognises "services to music". Like the Gold Medal, honorary membership is awarded rarely; first awarded in 1826, by 2006 only 117 honorary members had been created.
[edit] Honorary members
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