The London Mozart Players is regarded as one of Europe's finest chamber orchestras, and is the longest-established in the UK, having been founded in 1949 by Harry Blech. The outstanding quality of the LMP's performances of Mozart and other classical composers, both in the concert hall and on CD, is recognised throughout the world.
Andrew Parrott, a conductor of great authority in the LMP's core repertoire, is the orchestra's Music Director. Sir James Galway OBE is the LMP's Principal Guest with Nicolae Moldoveanu as Associate Guest Conductor, and the well-known actor, Simon Callow, as Theatrical Adviser. In London, the LMP plays regularly at the South Bank Centre, maintaining the proud and unique record of having appeared there every year since the Royal Festival Hall opened in 1951. The orchestra also performs at the Barbican Centre and has a well-established relationship with St John's, Smith Square. Resident Orchestra of Fairfield Concert Hall and the London Borough of Croydon since 1989, the LMP is generously supported by Nestlé UK and Croydon Council.
The orchestra made its Salzburg Festival debut in 2003, and appears in festivals and concert series throughout the UK and overseas. With the support of Arts Council England, the LMP has developed associations with a number of key venues and promoters around the country. Alongside these, the LMP is also committed to developing new audiences in easily-accessible venues such as community halls and churches, both in outer London Boroughs and more rural locations nationally.
The orchestra currently has a three year residency along these lines with East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire. The LMP has one of the most extensive orchestral education and outreach programmes, aimed at reaching as wide a cross-section as possible of the communities in which it works. Funding from Nestlé has enabled the LMP to reach thousands of children, and produce Music for Everyone, a music guide aimed at playworkers with little or no musical knowledge. The LMP also receives generous funding for its education and community programme from a number of charitable trusts and foundations.
The LMP's recording projects include a Hummel series with Howard Shelley, the on-going Contemporaries of Mozart series with former Music Director Matthias Bamert for Chandos Records, and recordings for BMG/RCA with Sir James Galway. The orchestra has also recently recorded with the amazing Jazz/Klezmer/World Music group The World Quintet, with whom they completed a ground-breaking tour in Autumn 2002, and continue to perform regularly.