Fulham Symphony Orchestra Explained

Fulham Symphony Orchestra
Founded:	1958
Location:	London
Principal Conductor:	Marc Dooley
Former Name:	Fulham Municipal Orchestra

Fulham Symphony Orchestra (FSO) is an amateur orchestra based in west London. It has given premieres of works by Wagner, Puccini and Tchaikovsky, performed with internationally renowned soloists, and featured many times in the national press.

Performances

A number of internationally renowned soloists have played with the orchestra including Alina Ibragimova, Giovanni Guzzo^[1] and Martin Owen.^[2]

The FSO has collaborated with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on a number of projects^{[3] [4]} and performances have been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and BBC London.

Notable performances have included:

• Rare performances of Edgard Varèse's Dance for Burgess and Ecuatorial at the Barbican in 2017, which were broadcast on BBC Radio 3^{[5] [6] [7]}
• UK premiere of Charles Koechlin’s Vers la plage lointaine, 2012
• A rare performance of Vagn Holmboe’s Tuba Concerto, 2011^[8]
• A rare performance of František Jílek’s orchestral suite from Janáček’s opera From the House of the Dead, 2010
• UK premiere of Smetena's The Brandenburgers in Bohemia, 1978 (with Hammersmith Municipal Opera)^[9]
• UK premiere of Tchaikovsky's Festival Overture on the Danish National Anthem, 1977 ^[10]
• London premiere of Wagner's Die Feen, 1973 (with Hammersmith Municipal Opera)^{[11] [12]}
• First fully staged UK performance of Delius' Fennimore and Gerda, 1968 (with Hammersmith Municipal Opera)^{[13] [14] [15] [16]}
• UK premiere of Puccini's opera Edgar (1905 version), 1967 (with Hammersmith Municipal Opera)^{[17] [18] [19] [20]}
• UK premiere of Giordano's Siberia (with Hammersmith Municipal Opera)^[21]
• The first concert at the open-air theatre in Bishop's Park, Fulham, 1960^[22]

Their 2011 performance of Bruckner's Eighth Symphony at London's St John's Smith Square, was described by Bachtrack as "a terrific performance by splendid band".^[23] The Guardian's classical music critic wrote of being "surprised and impressed" by a performance in 2009.^[24]

History

For nearly 30 years the musical director of the orchestra was Joseph Vandernoot.^[25] Later musical directors included Andrea Quinn, Peter Stark, Roland Roberts and Levon Parikian. Since 2001 the FSO's conductor has been Marc Dooley.

Originally named Fulham Municipal Orchestra, the orchestra was sponsored by Fulham Borough Council (later the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham) until the 1980s.^[26]

External links

• Fulham Symphony Orchestra

Notes and References

1. Web site: Review: Rachmaninov, Sibelius, Debussy and Janáček. November 2010. 20 June 2014. Seen and Heard. MusicWeb International. Briggs. Bob.
2. Web site: Four Horns. 21 Mar 2009. 20 Jun 2014. Time Out.
3. Web site: BBC Performing Groups 2010/11 – learning programme. BBC Symphony Orchestra. BBC. 1 June 2014.
4. Web site: 'Between Earth and Sky' Premiere. 21 November 2006. 20 June 2014. Music Sales Classical.
5. News: Varèse does it. Driver. Paul. 2017-05-14. The Sunday Times. 2017-11-30. 0140-0460.
6. Web site: BBC Symphony Orchestra - Total Immersion: Edgard Varèse - Free Performance. BBC Music Events. 2017-11-30.
7. Web site: The Music of Edgard Varèse, Recital - BBC Radio 3. BBC. 2017-11-30.
8. Web site: Vagn Holmboe. 20 June 2014 . Music Sales Classical.
9. News: The Brandenburgers at Hurlingham. Forbes. Elizabeth. 8 April 1978. The Financial Times. 12.
10. News: Without benefit of the clergy. 4 Nov 1977. The Guardian. 10.
11. News: Die Feen (review). Mann. William. 4 May 1973. The Times. 13.
12. News: Die Feen. Porter. Andrew. 28 July 1973. The Financial Times. 8.
13. News: Delius Society Newsletter. 1969 .
14. News: What to look out for. 27 April 1968. The Times. 18.
15. News: Poetic qualities of Delius opera. Sadie. Stanley. 24 May 1968. The Times. 7.
16. News: Fennimore and Gerda. Crichton. Ronald. 24 May 1968. 38. The Financial Times.
17. Book: Flury, Roger. Giacomo Puccini: A Discography. Scarecrow Press. 2012. 0810883295. 9.
18. Operatic Blueprint for the 1970s. 1967. Opera . 18. Rolls House Publishing Company. 358.
19. News: Review: Premiere for Puccini. Walsh. Stephen. 9 April 1967. 24. The Observer.
20. News: Edgar. Porter. Andrew. 7 April 1967. 26. The Financial Times.
21. News: Siberia (review). Mann. William. 8 December 1972. The Times. 13.
22. News: Fulham's Open Air Theatre. 2 July 1960. The Times. 12.
23. Web site: Powerful performances of Campkin and Bruckner by Fulham's finest. 27 November 2011. 20 June 2014. Bachtrack. Ward. Ken.
24. News: Tom Service on amateur orchestras. Service. Tom. Tom Service. The Guardian.
25. Web site: Foreman. Lewis. Obituary: Joseph Vandernoot. 1 June 2014. The Independent. 27 Jul 1999.
26. Web site: History of Fulham Symphony Orchestra. Fulham Symphony Orchestra. 1 June 2014.