The conductor Richard Hickox established this chamber orchestra in 1971 and remained its musical and artistic director until his death in 2008. He was succeeded by Stephen Layton as the Artistic Director and Michael Collins as Principal Conductor in 2010.
Making its first musical commission with John Rutter in 1972 with the piece Fancies, and appearing at the Proms in 1973, they soon became highly recognised in the English orchestral world, which would stretch globally before long.
Based in London it is the Opera Holland Park’s resident orchestra and can also be heard regularly playing at the Barbican Arts Centre and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Making an annual tour overseas each year, they couple that with being the resident orchestras of the towns Chatham, King’s Lynn, High Wycombe and Ipswich, that are all based in the Southern half of England.
Each year they normally perform at least 100 concerts and aside from making regular appearances at concert halls and music festivals in England, they are often heard on radio broadcasts in the UK.
The sinfonia has made over 100 recordings to date and in 2006 they received a Grammy nomination for their recording of Benjamin Britten’s Death in Venice.
Playing a part in musical education they set up an Education and Community Programme in 1988 and work with people in all areas of life. Participating in many projects that include workshops, individual performers give performances at hospitals, resident homes, hospices and to parents and toddlers and one of their main areas of interest is the Great Ormond StreetHospital in London which looks after seriously ill children.
William Alwyn recordings
Autumn Legend for English Horn and String Orchestra
Chandos 9065
Conductor – Richard Hickox
English Horn – Nicholas Daniel
Lyra Angelica – Concert for Harp and Orchestra
Chandos 9065
Conductor – Richard Hickox
Harp – Rachel Masters
Pastoral Fantasia for Viola and String Orchestra
Chandos 9065
Conductor – Richard Hickox
Viola – Steven Tees
Cambridge Singers recordings
Adam lay ybounden (Boris Ord)
Collegium 106 (CD: Christmas Night. Carols of The Nativity)
Conductor/Arranger –John Rutter
Away in a Manger (William J.Kirkpatrick/ James Ramsey Murray)
Collegium 106 (CD: Christmas Night. Carols of The Nativity)
Conductor/Arranger – John Rutter
In Dulci Jubilo (German Traditional/Henry Suso)
Collegium 106 (CD: Christmas Night. Carols of The Nativity)
Conductor – John Rutter
Arranger/translator: Robert Lucas Pearsall
Jeremy Jackman recordings
Patapan and Farandole (Georges Bizet/Jeremy Jackman/Bernard de la Monnoye)
EMI 49909 (CD: A Little Christmas Music)
The King’s Singers
Jeremy Jackson – Countertenor and composer
Alastair Hume – Countertenor
Bob Chilcott – Tenor and Arranger
Bruce Russell – Baritone
Simon Carrington – Baritone
Stephen Connolly – Bass
Sources:
- http://www.cityoflondonsinfonia.co.uk/about/
- https://cityoflondonsinfonia.wordpress.com/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_London_Sinfonia
- http://www.gosh.org/
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/318371-City-Of-London-Sinfonia
- http://www.allmusic.com/artist/city-of-london-sinfonia-mn0000132372/biography