Our Orchestra on Tour turns 70 - let's hear it for the Philharmonia

1. Founded in 1945

After World War II, legendary classical music record producer Walter Legge was looking for a first-class orchestra for opera, concerts and recordings, and formed the Philharmonia. Here's the earliest known photo of the orchestra

2. 70 years of working with classical music's finest

Over 70 years the orchestra has worked with the greatest conductors, composers and musicians. Here's Igor Stravinsky on the podium. No pressure.

3. Birthdays

Here's a picture from the orchestra's 10th anniversary celebrations in 1955. Make ours a big slice, thanks.

4. Five incredible Principal Conductors

Otto Klemperer, Riccardo Muti, Giuseppe Sinopoli and Christoph von Dohnányi have all been at the helm of this great orchestra - Finnish maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen is their current Principal Conductor

5. One of the world's busiest orchestras

Every year the Philharmonia performs at more than 160 concerts, numerous outreach events, and records music for films, computer games and commercial CDs. Phew.

6. 70 years of redefining what an orchestra is

Concert programmes have always been innovative, recordings have always been championed – and now the Philharmonia has added video game music to its repertoire, as well as a digital ‘virtual Philharmonia Orchestra’ and iOrchestra.

Festival Hall Philharmonia Michael Collins

7. A home at London's Royal Festival Hall

Since 1995 the orchestra have been based in London's cultural hub at Southbank Centre, filling the Royal Festival Hall with splendid sounds.

Philharmonia Orchestra Classic FM 2013 the perform

8. And sounding good live

They're regulars at Classic FM Live - and they sound fantastic thundering out the greatest music ever written in the Royal Albert Hall

9. And our Orchestra on Tour

We're delighted that The Philharmonia has been one of our partner orchestras since 2003 - with a title that reflects their invaluable role in taking classical music to venues around the country