BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

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BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Regional symphony orchestra based in Manchester which adopted this name in 1983 having previously been BBC Northern SO. Developed from Northern Wireless Orchestra, founded 1931, and renamed BBC Northern Orch. 1934. Chief conds. have incl. Charles Groves (1944–51); John Hopkins (1952–7); George Hurst (1958–68); Bryden Thomson (1968–73); Raymond Leppard (1973–80); Edward Downes (1980–91); and Yan Pascal Tortelier from 1991.