1940s & 1950s

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1940s

1940
Sir Henry Wood conducts the LSO in its first Prom season at the Queen’s Hall and then tours all over the UK with the Orchestra during the war years

1941

The LSO records many film soundtracks, such as 49th Parallel and Dangerous Moonlight

1945
Gordon Walker (flute/piccolo) becomes Chairman/Secretary (1945-49)

1946
LSO performs in a film called Instruments of the Orchestra featuring the premiere of Britten’s The Young Persons' Guide to the Orchestra.

Samuel Barber conducts his Adagio for Strings at the Three Choirs Festival

1947
Benjamin Britten first conducts the LSO at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival

1948
The LSO is reconstituted as a non-profit-distributing concern in order to qualify for more advantageous tax relief

1950s

1950
Josef Krips is appointed Conductor-in-Chief (1950–54)

1951
The LSO is one of several orchestras that perform at the formal opening of the Royal Festival Hall by George VI

1954
Jubilee Concert at the Royal Festival Hall – a repeat of the music of the inaugural concert of 1904, conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent, Anthony Collins, Basil Cameron, George Weldon and Muir Mathieson

1955
After a major policy crisis and a mass resignation of LSO Principals, the Orchestra suddenly becomes a new, young and dynamic ensemble with an average age of around 30

1956
The LSO is the first British orchestra to visit South Africa when it performs at the Johannesburg Festival

1959
Colin Davis conducts the LSO for the first time at the Royal Festival Hall

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