City of London Sinfonia
The Orchestra for Opera Holland Park
Firmly established as one of the UK’s leading chamber
orchestras, City of London Sinfonia was founded in 1971 by the late
Richard Hickox and celebrates its 40th anniversary this season. Led
by Stephen Layton (Artistic Director &
Principal Conductor) and Michael Collins
(Principal Conductor), the Orchestra has earned a reputation for
strong, distinctive programming, outstanding performances and
recordings, and a passion for music featuring the voice.
Performing throughout the UK and abroad, the
Orchestra makes regular appearances at all the major London concert
halls and venues, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral and other venues
in the City of London. It has been resident orchestra at the
capital’s popular Opera Holland Park since 2004 and holds a
long-standing residency in High Wycombe, as well as being a regular
guest at major UK festivals. In addition the Orchestra performs
lively Crash, Bang, Wallop! family concerts offering young
listeners a lively and interactive introduction to classical
music.
In autumn 2011, the Orchestra launched CLoSer,
a new concert series in East London, offering audiences a more
intimate and informal concert experience, as well as the chance to
engage with our musicians away from the traditional concert hall
setting. The Orchestra also embarked on a landmark UK concert tour
in early 2012, in conjunction with the Scott Polar Research
Institute, marking the centenary of Captain Scott’s expedition to
the South Pole through music, photography and
prose.
City of London Sinfonia has made over one hundred recordings
including a series of operas by Benjamin Britten on the Chandos
label and won a Grammy Award for Best Opera for its recording of
Peter Grimes.
The Orchestra’s Meet the Music education
and outreach programme, founded in 1988, was one of the first
established by a UK orchestra. Musicians spend approximately 100
days a year making music with a wide range of groups, young and
old, throughout the country, including a long standing residency at
the world famous Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Extending their innovative reach and approach, City of
London Sinfonia musicians deliver professional skills training for
corporate businesses, offering a creative approach to supporting
achievement and performance. Founded in 2000, Development
through Music is a pioneering programme and one of the
first of its kind in the country.
> Find out more about
City of London Sinfonia and its concert programme on the CLS
website...