The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) celebrated its 80th birthday with a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The evening featured a world premiere alongside performances of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Richard Strauss’s 'Ein Heldenleben'.
Founded in London in 1946 by Sir Thomas Beecham, the RPO has a history of embracing diverse musical styles, from film soundtracks to rock anthems. Vasily Petrenko, the current music director, led the orchestra for the anniversary event.
The concert opened with the world premiere of Errollyn Wallen’s 'Flare', described as a two-minute orchestral piece. Julia Fischer on violin, Pablo Ferrández on cello, and Jan Lisiecki on piano performed Beethoven’s Triple Concerto. The programme concluded with Strauss’s 'Ein Heldenleben', conducted by Petrenko.