skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    On Air Now

    Bill Overton 1am - 6am

    Bill Overton

    Now Playing

    Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (3) Franz Schubert Download 'Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (3)' on iTunes

    Symphony No.5 in Bb major D.485 (3) artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    Listen
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Charity
    • Christmas
    • Quizzes
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Twitter
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    News

    Pictures

    Royal Philharmonic Society: celebrating 200 years of music

    Commissioning Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, receiving letters from Elgar and Dvořák, putting on concerts, and honouring some of the world's best classical musicians, the RPS has shaped the UK's musical landscape for the past 200 years. In celebration of this milestone, we take a look back through the archives at these stunning snapshots of music history.

    1. rps birthday celebration

      1. Letter from Beethoven to the Royal Philharmonic Society

      The Royal Philharmonic Society had a close association with Beethoven, most famously commissioning his Symphony No. 9. This letter is part of a range of correspondence in the RPS Archive at the British Library - top marks if you can decipher his wild handwriting!

    2. rps birthday celebration

      2. Sarasate concert poster

      Concert Poster from 1879. This poster advertises the appearance of Pablo de Sarasate at Royal Philharmonic Society concerts. The Spanish violinist enjoyed a world-wide reputation, with his performances constantly earning standing ovations and encores.

    3. rps birthday celebration

      3. Founding document

      This is the founding document from 1813, signed by the founding members of the Royal Philharmonic Society. The first members included the violinist Johann Salomon, the publisher Vincent Novello and the pianist Muzio Clementi.

    4. rps birthday celebration

      4. RPS gold medal

      Introduced in 1870, this is the RPS' highest honour. The medal bears the effigy of Beethoven, and is presented to the finest musicians of any nationality. Fewer than 100 medals have been presented. Recent recipients include Mitsuko Uchida, Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim and Placido Domingo.

    5. rps birthday celebration

      5. Queen Elizabeth II at the RPS

      Photograph of HM Queen Elizabeth II, the Society’s Patron, examining pieces from the RPS Archive on display at the Royal Institution, London. The occasion marked the 175th Anniversary year of the founding of the Philharmonic Society. Date: 8 March 1988.

    6. rps birthday celebration

      6. 1871: RPS directors and the Schaller Beethoven's bust

      The bust was given to the Society in recognition of the support it gave Beethoven through his lifetime. It has been placed on the stage at every Society concert since.

    7. rps birthday celebration

      7. Leonard Bernstein with his RPS gold medal

      Leonard Bernstein with his RPS Gold Medal, presented to him in 1987.

    8. rps birthday celebration

      8. Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, final movement

      Mendelssohn had a strong association with the Royal Philharmonic Society. He conducted and performed at the piano many of his works. He dedicated this symphony to the Society and conducted the premiere in 1829.

    9. rps birthday celebration

      9. Concert poster from 1870

      This poster marks the hundred year anniversary of Beethoven's birth, marked by the Society with a concert entirely programmed with his music.

    10. rps birthday celebration

      10. Letter from Elgar to the Royal Philharmonic Society

      October 1897. In this letter, Elgar humorously asks whether the Society have come across him as a composer and whether a work of his could be performed in the Society's concerts. Following, the Society formed a good relationship with the composer and commissioned his Cockaigne Overture.

    11. rps birthday celebration

      11. Dame Janet Baker

      Photograph of Dame Janet Baker, receiving the Gold Medal from Lady Evelyn Barbirolli, in 1990.

    12. rps birthday celebration

      12. Concert poster from 1869

      The same year that saw Clara Schumann perform at Society concerts, also saw the legendary Hungarian violinist Joseph Joachim play Beethoven's Violin Concerto. A good friend of Brahms, Joachim performed a number of times for the Society and received the RPS Gold Medal in 1871.

    13. rps birthday celebration

      13. Concert tickets, c. 1869.

      These original concert tickets, in a variety of wonderful colours, come from the period when the Society held its concerts at St. James's Hall - one of the main concert halls in London in the mid-1800s.

    14. rps birthday celebration

      14. Copy of a Beethoven life mask

      Created by the Viennese sculptor Franz Klein (1779 - 1840), the original was made in 1812 and required Beethoven’s face to be covered with oil and then fluid plaster. During the process, Beethoven could only breathe through two straws inserted into his nostrils.

    15. rps birthday celebration

      15. Sir George Smart

      Sir George Thomas Smart was one of the leading musicians in London at the turn of the 19th Century. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music, was organist of the Chapel Royal and was a founding member of the Royal Philharmonic Society. He conducted the first performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in the UK, given by the Society in 1825.

    16. rps birthday celebration

      16. Alfred Brendel

      Photograph of Alfred Brendel, receiving the Gold Medal from Yehudi Menuhin, in 1992.

    17. rps birthday celebration

      17. Letter from Dvořák to the RPS, November 1895

      Dvořák was strongly associated with the Society - he conducted several of his works in London, including the world premiere of his famous Cello Concerto. In this letter he is being invited to come to London and conduct at the Society's concerts.

    18. rps birthday celebration

      18. The Harmonic Institution

      The Harmonic Institution was a partnership formed in 1818 to print music by musicians who were unable to find fair terms with the main London publishers. The organisation was based at the Argyll Rooms on Regent Street, London where the Philharmonic Society gave its concerts, including the first UK performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Unfortunately the rooms burnt down in 1830. The site is presently occupied by NatWest Bank.

    19. rps birthday celebration

      19. Concert Poster from 1869

      This poster advertises the appearance of Clara Schumann at a Royal Philharmonic Society concert. One of the greatest pianists of the Romantic era and wife of composer Robert Schumann, Clara performed at a number of Society Concerts. Here, she plays Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto in G minor, originally given its UK premiere by the composer himself.

    20. rps birthday celebration

      20. Royal Philharmonic Society Council and Beethoven Bust, 2012

      During 2013, the RPS will celebrate its Bicentenary with a range of concerts, talks and other events. Throughout its 200 year history, the RPS has been governed by a mixed group of professional musicians, music enthusiasts and administrators.

    More From ClassicFM

    The best live-streamed and archive classical concerts available online 2021

    The best classical music and opera online streams available in 2021

    Mozart apparently liked to imitate cats

    Mozart apparently liked to imitate cats. Here’s the tail as we know it.

    Mozart

    Musical pig plays instruments, and it’s sow good

    Musical pig plays instruments, and it’s sow good

    Videos

    Music at the Joe Biden inauguration

    Biden inauguration music: Lady Gaga’s national anthem and full performance schedule revealed

    Classical 100 was launched IN 2015 by Classic FM, ABRSM and Decca Classics, and has only been available to schools until now.

    ‘Classical 100’ music education resource is free for families in lockdown

    Classical 100

    ‘Wolf choir’ echoes through forest

    ‘Wolf choir’ echoes in forest as pack joins together in breathtaking harmony

    Videos

    Latest news

    See more Latest news

    9 of the most relaxing pieces of modern classical music

    9 of the most relaxing pieces of modern classical music

    17 hours ago

    Discover Music

    Seven in 10 people say orchestral music improved their ‘mood and wellbeing’ in lockdown

    Seven in 10 people say orchestral music improved their ‘mood and wellbeing’ in lockdown

    1 day ago

    Dr Jake Kohut teaches flute between National Guard shifts

    A Capitol soldier didn’t want to abandon his flute pupils, so he taught on Zoom between shifts

    1 day ago

    Discover Music

    Conductor Sir Simon Rattle applies for German citizenship

    Conductor Sir Simon Rattle applies for German citizenship, citing ‘absolute necessity’

    1 day ago

    Simon Rattle

    Salisbury Cathedral becomes a vaccination centre

    Beautiful organ music soothes people having COVID-19 vaccination at Salisbury Cathedral

    1 day ago

    Coronavirus

    Latest videos

    See more Latest videos

    Annie Lennox plays Beethoven ‘Moonlight’ Sonata on her living room

    Pop legend Annie Lennox plays enchanting ‘Moonlight’ Sonata on her living room piano

    4 days ago

    Beethoven

    90 year old soprano

    Incredible 90-year-old soprano, Lina Vasta, sings a majestic Puccini aria

    4 days ago

    Puccini

    Dad’s appeals for ‘en pointe’ prosthetic for ballerina daughter goes viral on Twitter

    Dad’s appeal for ‘en pointe’ prosthetic for ballerina daughter goes viral

    5 days ago

    Discover Music

    This piano is made entirely of ice lolly sticks

    This piano is made entirely of ice lolly sticks, and it’s pretty cool

    6 days ago

    Discover Music

    Robot trombone

    Guy tries to create a ‘robot trombone’ and it sounds hilarious

    7 days ago

    Videos

    Latest pictures

    See more Latest pictures

    Beethoven's 'real' face?

    See Beethoven’s ‘real’ face in artist’s 3D colourised portraits

    Beethoven

    NETHERLANDS-ACCIDENT-METRO

    Whale tail artwork saves train plunging into water in Holland

    Nicola Benedetti Grammy Award and violin

    Nicola Benedetti: we reveal the star violinist’s recordings, family and awards

    Nicola Benedetti

    Music school in Pripyat

    Photographer captures eerie shots from inside Chernobyl’s abandoned music school

    The Magic Flute

    15 stylish classical music and composer face masks

    Coronavirus

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • LBC News
    • handel
    • debussy
    • music theory
    • instruments
    • brahms
    • vivaldi
    • bach
    • tchaikovsky
    • chopin
    • andrea bocelli
    • beethoven
    • mozart
    • classical music tear jerkers
    • best classical music
    • Classic FM Live
    • classic fm requests
    • john suchet
    • piano world record
    • best pianists
    • harry potter music
    • classic fm app
    • saturday night at the movies
    • star wars soundtrack
    • best sopranos
    • best cellists
    • composer or pasta
    • music for studying
    • best violinists
    • sad music
    • composer birthdays
    • relaxing music

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Twitter
    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2021
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager