Page 984 - Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Coverage Book 2023-24

23 December 2023

What’s the difference between a

symphony and a philharmonic

orchestra?

28 December 2023, 11:41 | Updated: 21 February 2024, 11:31

Symphony orchestra’s magnificent ‘Jupiter’ at Royal Albert Hall | Classic FM
Live
By Rosie Pentreath
@rosiepentreath

The difference between a symphony and a philharmonic lies in a choice of
words used to name an orchestra. But it’s not quite as simple as that when you
dig into the origins of the use of those words. Let’s settle the score…

Choosing a good, strong name for an orchestra is as important as any branding
exercise. Most typically, the strongest name to use turns out to be that of the
city or town the orchestra is based in – think of the London Symphony