battle of the bands for the RLPO

By Catherine Jones on Jun 26, 09 01:32 PM

Fight! Fight! Fight! I can just see the brass scrapping in the street and the strings giving someone a poke in the eye with their bow.
It looks like there's a row brewing between the RLPO and the Halle down the road in Manchester about which is the oldest professional orchestra.

Those of you who read my feature on the Phil's new book, The Original Liverpool Sound, a couple of months ago now will recall the claim made that the RLPO is actually five years older than the Halle.
Archivist Vincent McKernan discovered paperwork while researching the book to confirm the Phil had a professional contracted orchestra as early as 1853.
Now the Halle is striking back, according to the Guardian this week, saying Liverpool's claim is "b*****ks".
Tsk, tsk! Language.
A Phil spokesman tells me: "The vast majority of the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra were professional from 1849, when the new Hall opened, with only the 1st and 2nd violins being augmented by amateurs.
"Members of the orchestra were contracted for the whole season from 1851, showing that it was a permanent fixture rather than simply a scratch band.
"This is reinforced by the orchestra lists in the programmes, which show the same players appearing in concert after concert, year after year.
"From 1853, the orchestra was composed entirely of professional musicians.
"It's clear that the RLPO predates the Halle, which did not give its first concert until 1858."
Batons at the ready!