The Philharmonia is one of the world's great orchestras. Acknowledged as the UK's foremost musical pioneer, with an extraordinary recording legacy, the Philharmonia leads the field for its quality of playing and for its residencies, music education and the innovative use of the latest technology in reaching new audiences. These, and the relationships it has with the world's most sought-after artists, most importantly its Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Esa-Pekka Salonen, place the Philharmonia Orchestra at the heart of British musical life.

Today, the Philharmonia can justifiably claim to be the UK's national orchestra. It is committed to bringing the same quality, live music making that it presents in London to venues throughout the country. It also performs frequently in the great concert halls of the world. In 2012/13 the Orchestra is performing more than 160 concerts, as well as recording scores for films, CDs and computer games. Under Esa-Pekka Salonen a series of flagship, visionary projects - City of Dreams: Vienna 1900 -1935 (2009), Bill Viola's Tristan und Isolde (2010) and Infernal Dance: Inside the World of Béla Bartók (2011) - have been critically acclaimed.

For 16 years now the Orchestra has delivered a much admired UK and International Residency Programme. This began in 1995 with the launch of residencies at the Bedford Corn Exchange and London's Southbank Centre. During 2012/13 the Orchestra performs more than 35 concerts at the Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. It celebrates its 16th year as Resident Orchestra of De Montfort Hall in Leicester and its 12th year as Orchestra in Partnership at The Anvil in Basingstoke. It enters the second year of new residencies at the new Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury and the Three Choirs Festival in the West of England.

The Orchestra's extensive overseas touring schedule this season included a Beethoven Cycle at the Bonn Beethovenfest (October 2012), a tour of the USA featuring a three-concert residency at Berkeley, California and performances at Disney Hall, Los Angeles, and the Lincoln Center, New York (November 2012). In February 2013 it toured Japan.