A bursting schedule of classical concerts take place at the Barbican Centre, the Southbank Centre and Royal Albert Hall and there are more world-famous symphony orchestras in London than any city across the globe. The Symphony Orchestra and Royal Opera House Orchestra battle for acclaim from audiences against the Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra.
There is also a great strength of classical music across many cities outside of London. Orchestras and music societies have long been established in places like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.
The vocal tradition has arguably become British classical music's glory, after early English church composers such as Thomas Tallis and William Byrd developed the use of massed choral voices. This tradition was boosted in 1710 when German composer Handel moved to London, generating a boom in opera, choral and instrumental music for the next 35 years. The Victorian era saw an explosion of classical music organisations and concert halls, as top European composers such as Mozart, Chopin and Mahler visited London.
The Philharmonic Society was set up in 1813, followed by the Royal Academy of Music in 1822. Major orchestras were established in cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh and new concert halls were built in London for large-scale symphonic performance.
Sir Henry Wood launched the Proms in 1895 amid a rapid increase in conservatoires and orchestras. This boom period produced a host of English late-Victorian and Edwardian composers and was headed by the first internationally renowned British composer, Edward Elgar.
The general public was at last given widespread access to great classical music, live and recorded when the BBC took over the Proms in 1931 and took classical music to the masses. The organisation founded its own broadcasting orchestra and classical radio station (now Radio 3).
Benjamin Britten was the greatest of British composers and boosted the increasing world profile of English music after the war. London is now the world's leading showcase for international performance and is a major visiting point for top Russian musicians.
There is also a great strength of classical music across many cities outside of London. Orchestras and music societies have long been established in places like Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool.
The vocal tradition has arguably become British classical music's glory, after early English church composers such as Thomas Tallis and William Byrd developed the use of massed choral voices. This tradition was boosted in 1710 when German composer Handel moved to London, generating a boom in opera, choral and instrumental music for the next 35 years. The Victorian era saw an explosion of classical music organisations and concert halls, as top European composers such as Mozart, Chopin and Mahler visited London.
The Philharmonic Society was set up in 1813, followed by the Royal Academy of Music in 1822. Major orchestras were established in cities like Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh and new concert halls were built in London for large-scale symphonic performance.
Sir Henry Wood launched the Proms in 1895 amid a rapid increase in conservatoires and orchestras. This boom period produced a host of English late-Victorian and Edwardian composers and was headed by the first internationally renowned British composer, Edward Elgar.
The general public was at last given widespread access to great classical music, live and recorded when the BBC took over the Proms in 1931 and took classical music to the masses. The organisation founded its own broadcasting orchestra and classical radio station (now Radio 3).
Benjamin Britten was the greatest of British composers and boosted the increasing world profile of English music after the war. London is now the world's leading showcase for international performance and is a major visiting point for top Russian musicians.
About the Author:
Steve Alexander is an arts writer and has built up a comprehensive knowledge of classical music in the UK. For more information on classical music visit www.theartsdesk.com.