Since its inception as "something akin to a musical republic" in 1904, the London Symphony Orchestra has established itself as one of the world's great orchestras. Richard Morrison's new chronicle--published to coincide with a major U.S. tour--reveals the pioneering spirit of this independent, self-governing ensemble; it follows the LSO from an idealistic infancy through to its position today as a prestigious classical ensemble in an age of uncertainty for classical music, exploring how the orchestra has managed to retain its swashbuckling quality and high standards rather than following the safer path of uniformity and reliability.