In 1964, to mark our Diamond Jubilee, the LSO embarked on its first World Tour, visiting the USA, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Turkey, and Persia (now Iran). In all, eleven weeks (27 Sept to 11 Dec 1964), travelling thirty-two thousand miles, performing fifty-one concerts in thirty-one cities. It is estimated that during the course of the tour the we performed to about a hundred million people across the world, either live or via TV and radio. A stunning line-up of conductors accompanied us: Georg Solti, Colin Davis, István Kertész, Sir Malcolm Sargent and Leopold Stokowski, with guest appearances by Sir Arthur Bliss, Pablo Casals and Aaron Copland. Soloists included Isaac Stern, Rudolf Serkin and Maureen Forrester as well as Principal players of the LSO: Alexander Murray (flute), Roger Lord (oboe), Gervase de Peyer (clarinet) and Barry Tuckwell (horn). The tour was a hit, with glowing reviews worldwide, and a standout concert in New York led by Leopold Stokowski, honouring our late Principal Conductor, Pierre Monteux. A highlight of the US section of the tour was the United Nations Day concert at the UN Headquarters in New York. The Secretary General at the time, U Thant, gave an address and the concert was relayed on radio and television. As a result, the Mayor of New York declared a ‘London Symphony Orchestra Day’. #LondonSymphonyOrchestra #Archive #ClassicalMusic
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