The BBC Philharmonic has announced that Principal Conductor Gianandrea Noseda's title has been changed to Chief Conductor, with immediate effect.
The news comes at the start of his fifth season at the helm of the BBC Philharmonic, and follows confirmation that Noseda has recently extended his contract by two years, committing to stay in the top job until 2010.

Gianandrea took on his role in Manchester in 2002, succeeding Yan Pascal Tortelier. His rapport with the Orchestra has produced some world-class music making, and he has recorded nine very well received CDs with the Orchestra for Chandos, among which the BBC Philharmonic's award-winning Beethoven Symphony Cycle, which last year staggered the classical music world with its success when it was offered for free download.

The Cycle conducted by Gianandrea Noseda at the Bridgewater Hall and offered for free download in two chunks for one week only from the BBC website, attracted an amazing 1.4 million requests. The Cycle drew as much attention for the quality of its music making as for the outstanding success of the internet offer. It won a coveted ITV South Bank Show Award early this year.

The cycle is once again accessible to music lovers via the web. Anyone who missed out or wishes to complete their BBC Philharmonic Beethoven Symphony collection will be able to make amends from Monday 16th October, when Chandos Records offer all nine symphonies for as little as £2.50 per symphony, or £20 for the complete set from the Chandos website: www.chandos.net

21/11/2006