Since its formation in 1978 the English Northern Philharmonia, the resident orchestra of Opera North, has established itself as one of the country’s leading ensembles both in the pit and on the concert platform. It has appeared with numerous international guest conductors and soloists, as well as with David Lloyd-Jones, its founder-conductor, Paul Daniel who was Opera North’s music director and principal conductor of the orchestra from 1990–1997, and with Steven Sloane, gave concerts throughout the UK, and has also made several visits abroad, not only with Opera North but also independently as a symphony orchestra.

The orchestra has a strong commitment to educational and community work and is involved with several school-based projects both in Leeds and further afield. Its Student Training Scheme, initiated in 1983, which gives full-time music students in Yorkshire the opportunity to play with the orchestra for certain rehearsals, is still the only one of its type in the country. 1993 saw the launch of the orchestra’s New Composers Forum, aimed at giving young composers an opportunity to hear their works rehearsed and performed by a professional orchestra, and it collaborates with Leeds Leisure Services in organising the Leeds Conductors Competition which has done much to launch the careers of young British conductors.

The orchestra has a rapidly expanding discography with releases for several recording companies, and a particularly close relationship with Naxos has already produced a widely acclaimed Walton series (including both Symphonies, his Viola, Violin and Cello Concertos and Belshazzar’s Feast) conducted by Paul Daniel and highly acclaimed recordings of works by Bliss, Delius, Vaughan Williams and Lambert conducted by David Lloyd-Jones.

The ENP has also made several appearances in London, both as a symphony orchestra and as part of Opera North, and in November 2001 Opera North became the first foreign company to visit Barcelona’s newly rebuilt Teatro del Liceu, taking both Gloriana and a new production of The Cunning Little Vixen.