Royal Philharmonic Society
Royal Philharmonic Society. London concert society formed by professional musicians in 1813 to promote primarily orchestral and instrumental music. For the first Philharmonic Society concert, the orchestra was led by the violinist Salomon and directed from the piano by Clementi. Spohr claimed to be the first director to use a baton in 1820, while later famous conductors included Mendelssohn, Sterndale Bennett, Sullivan, Tchaikovsky, Nikisch, Wood, Beecham, and, for a single disastrous season, Wagner. New commissioned works included Beethoven's ‘Choral’ Symphony (1825) and Mendelssohn's ‘Italian’ Symphony (1833). The society was granted its ‘Royal’ title in 1913 and has awarded a prestigious gold medal since 1871.
Eric Cross
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Royal Philharmonic Society
