The orchestra will be performing six times at the 2024 BBC Proms under its principal conductor Ryan Bancroft, among others. But who are the BBC National Orchestra of Wales?
Who are the BBC National Orchestra of Wales?
The BBC National Orchestra of Wales (BBC NOW) is a British orchestra based in Cardiff, Wales, and one of the BBC’s five orchestras – alongside the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestra celebrated its 90th birthday in 2018 – and the contribution it has made to the cultural landscape of Wales in its dual capacity as a broadcasting and national symphony orchestra.
BBC NOW performs annually at the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall and biennially at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Its concerts can also be heard regularly across the BBC: on Radio 3, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru.
The orchestra records many soundtracks for BBC television, including Doctor Who, Torchwood and Human Planet. It also performs outreach work alongside schools and music organisations throughout Wales.
When was the BBC National Orchestra of Wales formed?
BBC NOW existed in several forms before its current iteration.
The National Orchestra of Wales was established in 1928, but was disbanded in 1931 due to funding difficulties. In 1935, the BBC Welsh Orchestra was established as a 20-member ensemble, and after again being disbanded during the Second World War was re-formed with Mansel Thomas as its first principal conductor.
By 1976 the orchestra expanded to include 66 musicians and was renamed the BBC Welsh Symphony Orchestra. In 1993, the orchestra was renamed as the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, alongside its chorus, the BBC National Chorus of Wales.
- BBC appoints first head of orchestras and choirs
- Sakari Oramo extends his contract as BBC Symphony Orchestra chief conductor to 2026
Who are the orchestra's past principal conductors?
The orchestra's former conductors are:
Warwick Braithwaite (1928–1931)
Reginald Redman (1931–1935)
Idris Lewis (1935–1939)
Mansel Thomas (1946–1950)
Rae Jenkins (1950–1965)
John Carewe (1966–1971)
Boris Brott (1972–1978)
Bryden Thomson (1979–1982)
Erich Bergel (1983–1985)
Tadaaki Otaka (1987–1995)
Mark Wigglesworth (1996–2000)
Richard Hickox (2000–2006)
Thierry Fischer (2006–2012)
Thomas Søndergård (2012–2018)
Ryan Bancroft (2020–present)
Who is the BBC National Orchestra of Wales's current principal conductor?
The orchestra’s current principal conductor is American maestro Ryan Bancroft, who first guest conducted BBC NOW as a last-minute substitute in 2018. He returned as the orchestra’s guest conductor in May 2019, and became principal conductor from the 2020–2021 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.
Bancroft also became principal guest conductor of the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra from the 2023-24 season.
Tadaaki Otaka is conductor laureate of BBC NOW, while Jaime Martín will become its principal guest conductor from September 2024.
Who is the concertmaster of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales?
The orchestra’s leader is violinist Lesley Hatfield. Nick Whiting is associate leader and Martin Gwilym-Jones is sub-leader.
Where is the orchestra based?
BBC NOW has been based at BBC Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre, since January 2009.
It is also orchestra-in-residence at St David's Hall, Cardiff, and performs regularly throughout Wales, on international tours and at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the BBC Proms.
- Royal Albert Hall 'completed' with statues of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip
- Five facts about the Royal Albert Hall organ
When is the BBC National Orchestra of Wales performing at the BBC Proms this summer?
BBC NOW appears six times at The Proms in 2024, including twice on BBC television:
Prom 5: Monday 22 July, Royal Albert Hall, London
Ryan Bancroft conducts BBC NOW in Schoenberg’s Pelleas and Melisande, and Zemlinsky’s The Little Mermaid.
Prom 6: Tuesday 23 July, Royal Albert Hall, London
Ryan Bancroft leads the BBC NOW and massed singers in Verdi’s mighty Requiem.
Prom 32: Monday 12 August, Royal Albert Hall, London
Jess Gillam and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales perform Karl Jenkins’s BBC commission Stravaganza with conductor Nil Venditti at the helm. There are also works by Grace Williams and Louise Farrenc, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 on the programme.
Proms 47 & 48: Monday 26 August, Royal Albert Hall, London
Doctor Who makes its much-anticipated return to the Proms with a brand-new show celebrating the Doctor’s latest adventures. The BBC National Orchestra of Wales appears alongside a host of special guests
Prom 70: Thursday 12 September, Royal Albert Hall, London
Jaime Martín conducts the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in highlights from Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet, while Nemanja Radulović is the soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.