Symphony No. 2 : Work information

The Artists

Conductor: Sir Charles Mackerras

Sir Charles Mackerras was born in the United States of Australian parents. He studied in Sydney and Prague and made his debut in opera at Sadler's Wells. From 1966 to 1969 he was first conductor with the Hamburg State Opera and from 1970 to 1977 he was musical director of Sadler's Wells (later English National Opera). Sir Charles is a specialist in the Czech repertory, notably Janácek, and has recorded a cycle of his operas with the Vienna Philharmonic. His recordings have won numerous awards throughout the world. Sir Charles has undertaken a great deal of research into performance practice of the 18th and 19th centuries and has recorded all the symphonies and serenades of Mozart with the Prague Chamber Orchestra.

Apart from his operatic and symphonic work with the major opera houses and orchestras in Europe, Sir Charles is a frequent visitor to the USA where he conducts at many of the leading opera houses. In May 1993 he took up the post of Principal Guest Conductor with the San Francisco Opera. Sir Charles also maintains a close connection with English National Opera.

In 1974 Sir Charles received a CBE and was knighted in 1979 for his services to music. In 1969 he was made an Hon RAM and in 1987 he was made a fellow of the Royal College of Music. He has received honorary doctorates from Hull and Nottingham Universities. Sir Charles Mackerras was appointed Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in February 1993.

Ensemble: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, who was the Music Director until his death in 1961. By handpicking the personnel of his Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas attracted some of Britain's most outstanding musicians. Through its many concerts, recordings and broadcasts, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra became internationally established as a virtuoso body quite unlike any other orchestra, founding a unique tradition in which there was a combination of discipline and flexibility, individual artistry, virtuosity and ensemble that stemmed from Beecham's relationship with his chosen players. This tradition subsequently attracted conductors of the greatest quality and diversity.

In 1961, after Sir Thomas's death, Rudolf Kempe became Music Director and established new artistic and professional directions for the Orchestra. It was also during this period, in 1963, that the Orchestra became a self-governing body. This has been the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's form of constitution ever since; and in 1966 Her Majesty The Queen conferred the Royal title upon the Orchestra.

Following Rudolf Kempe, the Orchestra continued to attract some of the world's most outstanding conductors as Music Directors including Antal Dorati, Walter Weller, André Previn and Vladimir Ashkenazy. The Orchestra has also formed special associations with Lord Menuhin, Yuri Temirkanov and Sir Charles Mackerras. Since September 1996 the orchestra's Music Director has been the young Italian maestro, Daniele Gatti.