British music lovers, and possibly some innocent bystanders, are whiling away the summer observing supporters of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic challenge the Hallé Orchestra's
status as the oldest in Britain. The German émigré Charles Hallé founded the Manchester orchestra that bears his name in 1858. Liverpudlians claim their band is descended from a philharmonic society that began presenting concerts by a professional orchestra in 1853.BBC Music Magazine quotes John Summers, chief executive of the Hallé, as calling Liverpool's claim "bollocks." (Don't you love it when highbrows talk dirty?):
www.bbcmusicmagazine.com/news/battle-be-named-britain’s-oldest-orchestra