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The history of the National Symphony Orchestra began in the 1940s, when it was making an average of 10 records a year for DECCA with famous conductors and soloists such as Dr Malcolm Sargeant, Fistoulari, Boyd Neel, Moura Lympany, Clifford Curzon and Ida Haendel. This fine orchestra also recorded the music for many films, notalby "Caesar and Cleopatra", the cult film "Brief Encounter", "The Magic Bow", "Love Story" (which contained the famous "Cornish Rhapsody") and "Men of Two Worlds", with music by Arthur Bliss and under the direction of Muir Mathieson. Many of these film scores were recorded at Abbey Road Studios. One of the main things which distinguished the NSO from the other orchestras during the war years was that almost all the musicians were serving in the forces, and therefore unlike the LSO and LPO of the day (who relied on those who were too old or unfit for military service) were composed of young men such as Gareth Morris, Dennis Brain and Norman del Mar. The records made between '44 and '46 are considered by experts to be outstanding, especially when compared with pre-war orchestras. During this time the Leader of the Orchestra was David MacCallum (father of the star of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.") and there were many other great names in its ranks, such as Douglas Cameron, Alec Whittaker and James Blades, who describes in his autobiography a notable tour of Switzerland in 1946, culminating in the entire Orchestra being presented (after the performance) to a very impressed Richard Strauss! Since the 1980s the orchestra has been under the Management and Directorship of Perry Montague-Mason and Anne Collis. The Orchestra performas all over the country, abroad and in the major London concert halls. The NSO is regularly making records again as well as film and TV work. They have been recording more than 30 major classic musicals over the past three years for THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT RECORDS. These recordings are now being released and are attracting seriously good reviews from the music press. The NSO have also performed a number of spectacular televised and recorded concerts, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of distinguished composer/conductors from the worlds of TV and Film. The National Symphony Orchestra chooses its players not only for their musical talent and technical ability but also for their desire to give of their best at all times and to enjoy doing it! This enthusiasm conveys itself very clearly to audiences, who always respond positively.
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