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National Symphony Orchestra

 
Music Encyclopedia: National Symphony Orchestra
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American orchestra founded in 1931 in Washington, dc. Hans Kindler was its first conductor; its home is the Concert Hall, Kennedy Center. Activities include concerts in parks and at Wolf Trap Farm Park. Recent conductors have included Dorati and Rostropovich.


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Columbia Encyclopedia: National Symphony Orchestra
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National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Washington, D.C., founded in 1931 by Hans Kindler, who conducted the orchestra until 1949. Its first home was Constitution Hall; since 1986 it has been affiliated with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to a regular schedule of concerts, the NSO performs for state occasions, presidential inaugurations, holiday festivities, and other national and international events. The orchestra also a pops season, holds summer concerts on the Capitol's West Lawn and at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Va., and tours widely. Music directors of the orchestra since Kindler have been Howard Mitchell (1949-70), Antal Dorati (1970-77), Mstislav Rostropovich (1977-94), Leonard Slatkin (1996-2008), and Ivan Fischer (2008-).

Artist: National Symphony Orchestra
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  • Period: Modern (1910-1949)
  • Founded: November 02, 1931 in Washington DC

Biography

Although the National Symphony Orchestra gave its first official concert on November 2, 1931, its roots actually date to the previous year, when about 80 musicians assembled for a series of three concerts, the first of which took place on January 1, 1930. The conductor was Rudolph Schueller; Hans Kindler, however, led the two succeeding concerts and was subsequently named music director of the N.S.O. by a newly formed board of directors. The ensemble played in Constitution Hall, its home for exactly the next four decades. Kindler was a cellist, but showed talent on the podium and innovation in his programming, which tended to be conservative but inclusive of many works by American composers. He also demonstrated a keen sense for orchestra building, as the ensemble improved steadily during his nearly two-decade tenure. The N.S.O. performed for the inauguration of newly elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 and thereafter played for all subsequent inaugurations until the installation of the 1972 second Nixon administration, which chose the Philadelphia Orchestra. Financial difficulties plagued the organization by the late 1930s, owing in part to the national Depression. Yet the N.S.O. rarely seemed completely free of fiscal problems in the twentieth century, even in good times.

In 1941, Kindler and the N.S.O. made their first recording, for RCA, of a toccata generally attributed to Girolamo Frescobaldi, in a colorful transcription by the conductor. American Howard Mitchell succeeded Kindler as music director in 1949 and would also have a long tenure, serving until 1969. Mitchell's reign, however, was plagued by controversy regarding his interpretive and technical skills on the podium, as well as by continued financial woes and discontent among orchestra members, which resulted in strikes in the early 1960s. Nevertheless, he managed to attract major artists, such as pianists Emil Gilels, Van Cliburn, and Byron Janis, all three during this very troubling period in his second decade. Mitchell also increased the size of the ensemble and number of concerts and he frequently conducted works by American composers. He had a number of successful tours with the N.S.O., too, including the 1959 19-country excursion through South America and the 1967 European tour. Mitchell stepped down in 1969 and the N.S.O. spent a year under guest conductors. Antal Dorati was named music director in 1970 and the following year, the orchestra's home was relocated to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Dorati's programming was more mainstream, but because he was a composer himself, he also included a fair number of contemporary works. He made a few notable recordings with the N.S.O., particularly one of his piano concertos that featured his piano-playing wife, Ilse von Alpenheim, as soloist. Many musicologists believe the orchestra improved to front-rank status under Dorati. Mstislav Rostropovich succeeded Dorati in 1977 and ushered in an era in which the orchestra attracted many first-rate artists such as Martha Argerich (who made a highly praised recording of the Schumann piano concerto with Rostropovich and the N.S.O.), Isaac Stern, and many others. Moreover, there were numerous successful tours and award-winning recordings. Yet critics were not always kind to Rostropovich, some finding him erratic both in concert and on recordings. Still, his tenure was hugely successful, even if it was also often hampered by financial difficulties.

Rostropovich was succeeded in 1994 by Leonard Slatkin, who had been music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Slatkin also made successful tours and recordings, including a critically acclaimed CD of Prokofiev's Symphony No. 6. Slatkin remained music director of the 100-member N.S.O. into the 2002-03 season. ~ Robert Cummings, All Music Guide

Discography

Mendelssohn: Symphonies No. 3 "Scottish" & No. 4 "Italian"

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Guys and Dolls [1995/2000 Jay Studio Cast]

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On the Town

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Guys and Dolls [1995 Jay Studio Cast]

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Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on the Bare Mountain [Hybrid SACD]

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Shostakovich: Jazz & Ballet Suites; Film Music

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Show Boat [Jay]

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Wikipedia: National Symphony Orchestra (United States)
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
National Symphony Orchestra

Kennedy Center Hall of Nations
Background information
Also known as NSO
Origin Flag of the United States Washington DC, United States
Genre(s) Classical
Occupation(s) Symphony orchestra
Years active 1931-present
Website Official website
Members
Principal Conductor
Iván Fischer
Pops Conductor
Marvin Hamlisch
Associate Conductor
Emil de Cou
Former members
Founder
Hans Kindler

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), founded in 1931, is an American symphony orchestra that performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC.

Contents

History

For the first period of its history, the orchestra performed in Constitution Hall. During the tenure of the first music director, Hans Kindler, the musicians received a salary of US$40.00 per week, for three rehearsals and one concert, for five months of the year.[1]

Kindler and the orchestra made several 78-rpm recordings for RCA Victor, including the two Roumanian Rhapsodies by George Enescu; much later, in 1960, the orchestra would perform the first of these works under the baton of the visiting Romanian conductor George Georgescu, a close associate and favored exponent of the composer.[2] One of the more unusual RCA recordings with the orchestra was of the complete ballet music from the opera King Henry VIII by Camille Saint-Saens, one of the very few recordings conducted by Walter Damrosch. Years later, Howard Mitchell made a series of stereophonic recordings with the orchestra for RCA. Antal Doráti recorded with the orchestra for Decca Records. Mstislav Rostropovich made recordings for Teldec, Sony Records, and Erato. The orchestra returned to RCA Victor under Leonard Slatkin, until RCA abandoned new classical recordings.

In 1986, the National Symphony became the artistic affiliate of the Kennedy Center, the national center for the performing arts, where it has presented a concert season annually since the Center opened in 1971.

Activities

The National Symphony Orchestra regularly participates in events of national and international importance, including performances for ceremonial state affairs, presidential inaugurations and official holiday celebrations.

The Orchestra itself numbers 100 musicians, presenting a 52-week season of approximately 175 concerts each year. These include classical subscription series, pops concerts, and one of the country’s most extensive educational programs. In addition to these activities, small groups of NSO members develop education programs designed at age levels from pre-kindergarten through high school. Collectively these ensembles present as many as 100 additional performances a year during the American Residencies and at the Kennedy Center.

The National Symphony Orchestra has a strong commitment to the development of America’s artistic resources. Through the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund for New Orchestral Works, the NSO has commissioned more than 50 works, including cycles of fanfares and encores. To nurture new generations of conductors, Slatkin founded the National Conducting Institute in 2000. Also of note is the Kennedy Center Summer Music Institute. For more than a decade, scholarships provided by the National Trustees of the National Symphony Orchestra have enabled high school students from throughout the country to come to the nation’s capital for several weeks of study with NSO musicians.

First Lady Nancy Reagan conducts the National Symphony Orchestra, 1987

Another important project is the National Symphony Orchestra American Residencies for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This venture encompasses sharing all elements of classical symphonic music with a specific region of the United States, exploring the diversity of musical influences, and giving the region a musical voice in the nation’s center for the performing arts through exchanges, training programs, and commissions. Established in 1992, the project has taken the NSO to fifteen states.

In November 2004, the orchestra announced that Slatkin would conclude his tenure as the orchestra's music director in 2008. One report spoke of tensions between the conductor and the orchestra, and mentioned criticisms of Slatkin's programming and rehearsal styles.[3]

With the 2006-2007 season, Iván Fischer became the principal guest conductor of the orchestra.[4][5] The current concertmaster/leader of the orchestra is Nurit Bar-Josef. On 13 April 2007, the orchestra announced the appointment of Fischer as the orchestra's principal conductor as of the 2008-2009 season, for 2 seasons.[6] This interim position is for two years.[7] On September 25, 2008, the orchestra announced the appointment of Christoph Eschenbach as the orchestra's sixth music director, effective with the 2010-11 season, for an initial contract of 4 years.[8]

Music directors

References

  1. ^ Tim Page (4 September 2005). "The NSO: 75 and Counting Its Blessings". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/02/AR2005090200542_pf.html. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. 
  2. ^ Programme for National Symphony Orchestra performances of December 13-15, 1960.
  3. ^ Tim Page (18 November 2004). "Slatkin, NSO to Part in 2008". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57371-2004Nov17.html?sub=AR. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. 
  4. ^ "Q&A: Iván Fischer". Playbill Arts. 19 October 2006. http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/5442.html. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. 
  5. ^ Tim Page (12 February 2007). "Ivan Fischer: Plays Well With Children". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/11/AR2007021101509.html. Retrieved on 2007-03-18. 
  6. ^ Tim Page (12 April 2007). "NSO Picks Fischer as Interim Maestro". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/12/AR2007041201612.html?hpid=moreheadlines. Retrieved on 2007-04-13. 
  7. ^ "Iván Fischer Appointed Principal Conductor of DC's National Symphony Orchestra". Playbill Arts. 12 April 2007. http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6310.html. Retrieved on 2007-04-14. 
  8. ^ Anne Midgette (2008-09-25). "Christoph Eschenbach to Lead National Symphony". Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504161.html?hpid=topnews. Retrieved on 2008-09-25. 

External links

v • d • e
National Symphony Orchestra Music Directors
Hans Kindler (1931)  · Howard Mitchell (1949) · Antal Doráti (1970) · Mstislav Rostropovich (1977) · Leonard Slatkin (1996)

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Music Encyclopedia. The Concise Grove Dictionary of Music. Copyright © 1994 by Oxford University Press, Inc.. All rights reserved.  Read more
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