Over the years, WNO had worked with a number of orchestras, including the scratch orchestras of the early days; the Bournemouth Symphony (which first brought their conductor and later WNO Music Director Charles Groves to the company); Liverpool Philharmonic; CBSO, and Sinfonia of Wales. Finally the go-ahead was given for the company to form their own. Initially called the Welsh Philharmonia, as it was expected to be giving concerts when it was not in the pit, its membership was largely drawn from London-based musicians and the orchestra's first rehearsal took place in St Pancras Town Hall. In charge of them was a young American who had been brought in by Lockhart to conduct Aida and The Barber of Seville. Later to become Music Director of The Met, James Levine made his British operatic debut
conducting Aida in Llandudno.