Question for British classical musicians?

I would put the LPO and RPO fairly well down the list. To my mind, the BBC orchestras are up at the top - BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic O, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, BBC Scottish S O. We mustn't forget the Hallé which is now improving leaps and bounds under Mark Elder or the Birmingham SO which perhaps has lost something since Sir Simon Rattle left. There are also The Philharmonia (Klemperer's old band) and the Royal Liverpool P O. Though I have to agree that probably the LSO tops the list - but it is perhaps not as good as it was in the past.

The London concert season ends for the summer as the BBC Proms take over - running every night from mid-July to mid-September, with many visiting orchestras.

I'm not english bot have heard all 3 major London orchestras when the have visited New York. By far the best is the The London Symphony Orchestra, under the recently retired Sir Colin Davis it was one of the top Orchestras in the world and I think they will continue at that level under Valery Gergiev. Thge come here every year and I never miss them.

he London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic are both very good and Londoner's can be proud of them but they do not play on the same level in my opinion. I am interested in seeing what concert goers in London think.

Don't forget the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, The English Chamber Orchestra and all the Period Instrument orchestras. Of the big 4 (LSO, LPO, RPO and BBC) I would say it depends on the repetoire, the conductor and the day who is the best. They are all pretty good.

I can't add anything to the discussion as they all have their merits. But, if you're coming to London in the summer, look up the websites of the London concert halls - Cadogan Hall, Festival Hall, Albert Hall.

LSO