The English Symphony Orchestra is named not for its national reach, but for the concept of Englishness. Its reputation, however, is international. Its founding conductor, William Boughton, remained on the podium for many years and developed the orchestra's repertoire in the direction of large orchestral works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At that time, the works of such composers as Bax, Bridge, and Lennox Berkeley were not so often heard, and the orchestra aroused strong interest among English music enthusiasts for its recordings on the Nimbus label. The orchestra has also recorded for Signum, Avie, Somm, Toccata, and Naxos. A large part of the orchestra's performance energies have been devoted to contemporary music. ~ James Manheim