About us
At the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO), we believe music should be a part of everyone’s life. It’s our mission to make that happen by bringing the thrill of live orchestral performance to as many people as possible, wherever and whoever they are.
© Mark Allan
Who we are
A national orchestra with a global presence
As a live orchestra for the whole nation, we perform for audiences from Gateshead to Guildford. We play music you love, music we think you’ll love, and music you already love but just didn’t realise. We take your entertainment seriously – we’re passionate about all the varied sorts of music we play, and we want you to hear that passion in every single note. If you’ve ever been in doubt as to whether orchestral music is for you, come with us – we don’t think you’ll regret it.
Our story
Excellence, passion and open-mindedness
Our journey started 80 years ago when one of history’s great impresarios, Sir Thomas Beecham, decided that Britain needed an orchestra that was as adaptable as it was brilliant. Beecham was an outstanding orchestra leader and a visionary entrepreneur. He instilled in the RPO the values that remain to this day – excellence, passion, but also resilience and open-mindedness.
In keeping with Beecham’s vision, the RPO has never stopped evolving and adapting. We were the first orchestra to establish its own record label and one of the first to set up a community and education programme, RPO Resound, which remains a leader in the field.
Driven by people
The artists who bring the music to life
Guided by our Music Director, Vasily Petrenko, we bring new energy and contemporary relevance to the great symphonic music written over the last three centuries. We also play pop music, music for video games, music for movies and more. We have collaborated with some of the most iconic musicians of our time, including Kylie Minogue, Yehudi Menuhin, Rod Stewart, Rudolf Kempe, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Temirkanov, Shirley Bassey, André Previn and Def Leppard.
Music for life
Where have you heard the RPO?
Even if you don’t think you’ve heard us before, you probably have. We provided the original soundtrack to the UEFA Champions League, for iconic films from The Bridge on the River Kwai to The Red Shoes and for video games including Civilization. As the world’s most versatile orchestra, every year we reach a live and online audience of more than 70 million people and give around 200 live performances.
At home across the world
Where we play
To be known around the world is an honour. But to be valued at home is a responsibility. In 2025, we moved to the London Borough of Brent, realising a long-held ambition to embed ourselves in the everyday life of a diverse community in accordance with our mission to combine excellence with inclusion and collaboration. We are the only London orchestra to play regularly at three of the capital’s major concert halls – the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. There, we are a world-renowned orchestra. In Brent, we’re also a neighbour and a friend.
Wherever and whatever we’re playing, our aim is the same: to entertain, inspire and include. Join us on our journey – everyone’s welcome.
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