John White suggested that Legge shut down the Philharmonia in order to
retire but in reality it was more than that.  His job at EMI was becoming
insecure and thus the work that the orchestra would obtain was at risk
(it had been virtually EMI's house orchestra since its formation in the
mid-forties).

In mid-1964 Legge announced to the press that as he was unable to maintain
the orchestra any longer at the same artistic level as that attained in
Berlin and Cleveland (I think they were the names he used) and therefore
he was closing it.

The immediate re-forming of the orchestra under the NPO name was definitely
not done with Legge's cooperation - indeed he was furious with Klemperer
for joining them and also apparently could not stop the addition of the
word "New".

I believe that the name Philharmonia belonged to his company (Philharmonia
Concert Society).  Years later, after Legge's death, the NPO bought back
the original name.

John G. Deacon
Home page: www.ctv.es/USERS/j.deacon