[size=55:219rs36b]Sofia echo 29 uly 2010

The London Philharmonic Orchestra will perform in Sofia for the first time

The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) will perform for the first time in their illustrious history in Sofia, Bulgaria on December 11 2010 in the National Palace of Culture (NDK), Sofia Music Enterprises (SME) said in a media release on July 29 2010.

The LPO is based in London in the Royal Festival Hall, and is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is also the one of the most acclaimed and respected orchestras in the world. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera. The LPO also performs concerts at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne and the Brighton Dome. The LPO has won a Grammy Award and has composed the music for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, among many others famous projects.

The 100 person orchestra will visit Bulgaria as part of their Balkan tour in 2010. The orchestra will perform Symphony N5 of Mandelssohn, the Symphony N3 of Brahms, and the Piano Concerto N4 of Beethoven. The event will be staged in Hall One of NDK.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on August 2 at the NDK ticket centre or at Ticket Pro, priced between 50 and 200 leva depending on allocation, the report said.

The orchestra was formed in 1932 by Sir Thomas Beecham, and played its first concert on October 7 1932 at the Queen's Hall, London. Its founding associate conductor was Malcolm Sargent. During the early years, the orchestra was led by Paul Beard and David McCallum, and included leading players such as Anthony Pini, Reginald Kell, Léon Goossens, Gwydion Brooke, Geoffrey Gilbert, Bernard Walton and James Bradshaw.