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BBC National Orchestra of Wales

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) (Welsh: Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC) is a Welsh symphony orchestra and one of the BBC's five professional radio orchestras. The BBC NOW is the only professional symphony orchestra organisation in Wales, occupying a dual role as both a broadcasting orchestra and national orchestra. The BBC NOW has its administrative base in Cardiff, at the BBC Hoddinott Hall on the site of the Wales Millennium Centre, since January 2009.[1]

BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Cerddorfa Genedlaethol Gymreig y BBC

BBC NOW

1928[1]

The BBC NOW is the orchestra-in-residence at St David's Hall, Cardiff, and also performs regularly throughout Wales and beyond, including international tours and annual appearances at the Royal Albert Hall in London at the BBC Proms. Broadcasting work includes studio sessions for BBC Radio and television, although the orchestra's concerts form the bulk of its broadcasts, transmitted primarily on BBC Radio 3 but also on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Television. The orchestra records many soundtracks for BBC television, including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Human Planet, and Earthflight.

Tippett: The Rose Lake; Ritual Dances from The Midsummer Marriage [CHSA 5039]

[14]

Elgar: Symphony No 2; In The South (Alassio) [CHSA 5038]

Sullivan: Trial by Jury; Cox and Box [CHSA 10321]

Bridge: Orchestral Works, Vol. 6 [CHAN 10310]

Walton: Christopher Columbus; Hamlet and Ophelia [CHSA 5034]

[15]

Parry: Works for Chorus and Orchestra [CHAN 10740] – nominated for Best Choral Performance at the

2014 Grammy Awards

Stravinsky: Ballets Russes

Holst: Orchestral Works, Vol. 1 [CHSA 5069]

In addition to its recording work for the BBC, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales has an extensive commercial discography with such labels as Chandos, Hyperion and Linn.[12] These include recorded cycles of music of Lennox Berkeley and Michael Berkeley, Frank Bridge,[13] and Edmund Rubbra.


The BBC NOW discography includes:

1936 – : Elegy for String Orchestra

Grace Williams

1936 – Arwel Hughes: Fantasia for Strings

1947 – Grace Williams: "Sea Sketches"

1950 – Grace Williams: Violin Concerto, soloist Granville Jones

1950 – David Wynne: Rhapsody Concerto for Violin & Orchestra, soloist Jan Sedivka

1950 – Alun Hoddinott: Concerto for Clarinet & String Orchestra, soloist Fred Clements

1953 – David Wynne: Elegy for Solo Violin & Strings, soloist Jan Sedivka

1955 – David Wynne: Prelude, Air & Dance

1961 – David Wynne: A Welsh Suite

1962 – Alun Hoddinott: "Job"

1964 – David Wynne: Fantasia Concerto for Viola & Orchestra, soloist Geoffrey York

1965 – David Wynne: Cymric Rhapsody No.1

1967 – Grace Williams: Carillons, Concertino for Oboe & Orchestra, soloist Philip Jones (oboe)

1967 – David Wynne: "Octad"

1968 – David Wynne: Prelude for Orchestra

1969 – Alun Hoddinott: "Nocturnes & Cadenzas", soloist Raphael Sommer (cello)

1972 – Alun Hoddinott: "The Hawk Is Set Free"

1975 – Alun Hoddinott: "Landscapes"

1978 – Alun Hoddinott: "Voyagers"

1980 – Alun Hoddinott: "The Heaventree of Stars", soloist Christopher Warren-Green (violin)

1981 – Alun Hoddinott: "Lanternes Des Morts"

1984 – Alun Hoddinott: Symphony No.6

1988 – Alun Hoddinott: "Tarantella", soloist Ieuan Jones (harp)

1989 – Alun Hoddinott: "Songs of Exile", soloist Robert Tear (tenor)

1989 – Alun Hoddinott: "Star Children"

1989 – Alun Hoddinott: Symphony No.7

1990 – Alun Hoddinott: "Emynau Pantycelyn"

1993 – Alun Hoddinott: Symphony No.9

1995 – Alun Hoddinott: Concerto No.2 for Violin & Orchestra, soloist Dong-Suk Kang (violin)

1996 – : Symphony No. 1

Anthony Powers

1997 – : Piano Concerto

Unsuk Chin

1999 – Alun Hoddinott: Symphony No.10

2002 – Alun Hoddinott: "Lizard"

2004 – Alun Hoddinott: "Badger in the Bag" [Broch Ynghod]

2004 – Alun Hoddinott: Trombone Concerto, soloist

Mark Eager

2007 – Giles Swayne: Symphony No.1 – a small world

2007 – Alun Hoddinott: "Images of Venice", soloists Helen Field (soprano), Jeremy Huw Williams (baritone)

2007 – John McCabe: Horn Concerto (Rainforest IV), soloist David Pyatt

2009 – Alun Hoddinott: "Taliesin"

2010 – : In spe

Arvo Pärt

2010 – : Piano Concerto (Art of War)

Arlene Sierra

2010 – : Centauromachy, soloists Philippe Schartz (flugelhorn) and Robert Plane (clarinet)

Simon Holt

2011 – Christopher Painter: Furnace of Colours, soloist Claire Booth (soprano)

2011 – : lyra

Mark Bowden

2013 – : The Yellow Wallpaper

Simon Holt

2015 – B Tommy Andersson: Pan

2016 – John Pickard: Symphony No 5

2018 – : Spring

Huw Watkins

Works premiered by the orchestra include:

Leslie Hatfield (2004–present)

(2001–2008)

Michael Berkeley

(2008–2014)

Simon Holt

(2014–2015)

B. Tommy Andersson

(2015–2020)

Huw Watkins

(2020–present)

Gavin Higgins

(2006-2010)

Guto Puw

(2011-2015)

Mark Bowden

(Composer Affiliate, 2020–present)[16]

Sarah Lianne Lewis

"The BBC National Orchestra of Wales: A Celebration", Peter Reynolds (BBC, 2009)

BBC NOW official home page

BBC NOW page on the history of the orchestra

BBC review of its performing groups – June 2012