The orchestra toured the United States in 1950, thus becoming the first British orchestra to visit America since the London Symphony Orchestra in 1912.
A Review of the orchestral scene of 1950 said of the RPO:
Leader David McCallum … Royal Philharmonic Society concerts (Beecham 4, Celibidache, Sargent). Number of concerts: 32 (approx)…. The Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic share a very serious disability: that neither is a permanently constituted orchestra. Both assemble and disperse more or less at random…there is no style which is distinctively RPO or Philharmonia.[2]
Later the orchestra began to develop its own character, particularly in the woodwind section, led by Jack Brymer (clarinet), Gwydion Brooke (bassoon), Terence McDonagh (oboe), and Gerald Jackson (flute), sometimes referred to as ‘The Royal Family’.[3]
After Beecham's death, the orchestra reorganised itself as a self-governing limited company. and soon encountered difficulties.[4] The Royal Philharmonic Society decided not to engage the RPO for its concerts in 1963, Glyndebourne engaged the London Philharmonic instead of the RPO from 1964 onwards and the management of the Royal Festival Hall also severed its connections with the orchestra. Some senior players left, and Kempe resigned as chief conductor, though he returned shortly afterwards. Helped by strong support from Sir Malcolm Sargent the orchestra successfully mounted its own concerts at a cinema in the London inner suburb, Swiss Cottage. [5]
A further threat to the orchestra's existence came in 1984, when a review carried out on behalf of the Arts Council by the journalist William Rees-Mogg opined that England lacked 'a great eastern symphony orchestra': the suggestion was that the RPO should move to Nottingham. However, another Arts Council report of the same period recommended that the RPO should supplement the London Symphony Orchestra as resident orchestra at the Barbican Centre; neither proposal came to fruition.[6]
In 1992 the orchestra appointed Peter Maxwell Davies as associate conductor and composer. The same year, UEFA commissioned the orchestra to sing the UEFA Champions League Hymn[citation needed].
On April 7, 1994, the Royal Philharmonic under the direction of Sir Gilbert Levine performed at the Vatican in the historic "Papal Concert to Commemorate the Holocaust", with cellist Lynn Harrell and Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss as narrator.
In July 2008 it was announced that the RPO would continue its residency in Lowestoft for a fifth year, bringing four concerts a year to England's most easterly town.
Over The Rainbow
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
High above the chimney tops,
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?
The song "Over the Rainbow" speaks to the universal desire for a better life, away from the troubles and difficulties we all face. It presents a beautiful image of a world beyond our current one, where everything is perfect and all our dreams can come true. The rainbow in the song represents a metaphorical bridge or gateway to this magical world. The idea of the rainbow also evokes childhood memories and innocence, as it is a symbol typically associated with childhood dreams and wonder.
The first stanza paints the picture of a land far beyond the rainbow, a place that the singer has only heard about in songs and stories. However, it suggests that this place is real, and not just a figment of the imagination. The second and third stanzas express the singer's hope and wishful thinking, that someday they may be able to reach this place beyond the rainbow, where troubles and worries don't exist. The final stanza brings the song full circle, with a repetition of the opening lines, emphasizing the desire to reach this distant land.
Overall, "Over the Rainbow" is a hopeful and inspiring song, with a message that transcends time and place, and speaks to us all. It encourages us to dream big, to never give up hope, and to believe that anything is possible if we dare to dream.
Line by Line Meaning
Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high
There is a place, high up in the sky, that is beyond our reach.
There's a land that I've heard of once in a lullaby.
There is a mythical place that I have only heard about in a dream-like state.
Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
Up above the world, past the clouds, there is a place where the sky is always blue.
And the dreams that you dare to dream,
Even the wildest dreams that you are afraid to share can come true in this mythical place.
Really do come true.
These dreams are not just figments of your imagination, they can actually come to fruition.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
At some point in time, I will make a wish while looking up at the stars.
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
When I wake up, I will be in a place where my problems and worries are no longer present.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops,
In this place, my problems will disappear as easily as a lemon drop melting in my mouth.
High above the chimney tops,
This mystical land is located far above the buildings and smoke stacks of the cities below.
That's where you'll find me.
You can only find me in this dream-like place far above the earth.
Somewhere over the rainbow, blue birds fly
High up in the sky where the rainbow ends, blue birds are free to fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow
These birds can fly over the rainbow and far into the mystical land that lies beyond it.
Why then, oh why can't I?
I wonder why I can't also be as free and uninhibited as these blue birds.
If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow
Assuming that these blue birds are happy and carefree flying over the rainbow and beyond.
Why, oh why can't I?
I question why I am not able to share in the same joys and freedoms as these blue birds.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HAROLD ARLEN, E HARBURG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Crushed Twinkie
My heart goes out to you over your loss of these precious animal friends.
"Oh yet we trust that somehow good will be the final goal of ill. From pangs of nature, sins of will, defects of doubt,and taints of blood. That nothing walks with aimless feet. That not one life shall be destroyed, or cast as rubbish to the void, when God hath made the pile complete. That not a worm is cloven in vain. That not a moth with vain desire is shriveled in a fruitless fire, but to subserve another's gain..."
Alfred Lord Tennyson
🌠Milton Moore🌠
Las Vegas, Nevada
[From a 75 year old music and animal lover who was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, which is in close proximity to a small town named Gainesville!🤪]
zerobertoballestra
Lindíssimas recordações de meu tempo de infância e adolescência essa música me traz. Obrigado!
Lisa G
I never get tired of listening to this song... it always makes me feel good all over. Though the photos were not sharp the colors of the rainbows declared the Glory of God... I loved it!!! Thank you, dear musicmemories2010, for a lovely post.
John Russell
Beautiful melody, rendition and video! Thank you.
Arlete Pereira de Camargo
BELÍSSIMA!
mikeyousofine
One of the great modern claasics beautifuly played by this great orchestra. Thank you for posting.
richard4677
brings back beautiful memories of long ago, thank for posting this great music.
Lydia Brattin
I want this arrangement to be played at my funeral.
The Crushed Twinkie
Great witty remark, along the lines of the titles of country songs such as THE NEXT TIME YOU SEE ME, I'LL BE GONE and IF YOUR PHONE DOESN'T RING, IT'S ME.🤪
MILTON MOORE
Rat Ice Cream
This is breathtaking
daniel caillaba
incomparable en cualquier version.