National Symphony Orchestra

Last updated
National Symphony Orchestra
National Symphony Orchestra logo.svg
Banner of the NSO, Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.
Short nameNSO
Founded1930;94 years ago (1930)
LocationWashington, D.C., United States
Concert hallJohn F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Music director Gianandrea Noseda
Website www.kennedy-center.org/nso

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1930 by cellist Hans Kindler, its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Contents

The NSO regularly participates in events of national and international importance, including performances for ceremonial state affairs, presidential inaugurations and official holiday celebrations, including the annual National Memorial Day Concert in May and A Capitol Fourth concerts on July 4. The NSO presents a 52-week season of approximately 175 concerts each year. These include classical subscription series, pops concerts, and educational programs.

History

After an initial ad-hoc concert on January 31, 1930, the NSO was officially organized by the Dutch-born American cellist Hans Kindler in 1931, and remained under his direction until 1949. [1] In the early years, Kindler often relied on unemployed local talent or borrowed musicians from other mid-Atlantic cities. During Kindler's tenure, the musicians received a salary of $40.00 per week, covering three rehearsals and one concert, for five months of the year. [2] The first female member of the NSO was harpist Sylvia Meyer, who joined in 1933. [3]

Antal Doráti became music director in 1970. He stood down as music director after 7 years. A deteriorating relationship with the NSO board of directors marked his tenure. [4] Mstislav Rostropovich succeeded Doráti as music director in 1977. In 1986, the NSO became the artistic affiliate of the Kennedy Center, where it had presented a concert season annually since the Center opened in 1971. Rostropovich concluded his NSO tenure in 1994.

Leonard Slatkin was music director of the NSO from 1996 to 2008. One report spoke of tensions between the conductor and the orchestra, and mentioned criticisms of Slatkin's programming and rehearsal styles. [5] With the 2006–2007 season, Iván Fischer became the principal guest conductor of the orchestra. [6] [7] On April 13, 2007, the orchestra announced the appointment of Fischer as the orchestra's principal conductor as of the 2008–2009 season, for two seasons. [8] [9]

In September 2008, the NSO announced the appointment of Christoph Eschenbach as the orchestra's sixth music director, effective with the 2010–2011 season, for an initial contract of four years. [10] During his tenure, NSO released an album in 2011, including selections of their live performance from their program honoring the 50th anniversary of U.S. President John F. Kennedy's Inauguration. [11] In September 2011, the orchestra extended Eschenbach's contract through the 2014–2015 season. In March 2014, his contract was extended through the 2016–2017 season. [12] [13] Eschenbach concluded his tenure as NSO music director at the end of the 2016–2017 season, and subsequently became the NSO's conductor laureate. [14]

In 2011, Gianandrea Noseda first guest-conducted the NSO, and returned in November 2015 for an additional guest engagement. In January 2016, the NSO announced the appointment Noseda as its next music director, effective with the 2017–2018 season. [15] He served as music director-designate in the 2016–2017 season, and his initial contract as music director was for 4 seasons. [16] In September 2018, the NSO announced the extension of Noseda's contract through the 2024–2025 season. [17]

The COVID-19 pandemic caused cancellation of full-scale live in-person concerts, and led to a local community outreach programme in 2020 called "NSO in Your Neighborhood (IYN)". Through this program, NSO held performances mostly outdoors in front of frontline health workers. [18] In June 2022, the NSO announced a further extension of Noseda's contract through the 2026–2027 season. [19] In January 2023, the NSO announced the appointment of Jean Davidson as its next executive director, effective 1 April 2023. [20]

On the morning of 27 September 2024 at 11:00 local time, the musicians of the NSO took industrial action and initiated a work stoppage, the first such action since 1978, after a breakdown in labour negotiations. The management and the musicians reached a settlement by 14:30 local time that same day. [21]

Recordings

Kindler and the NSO made several 78-rpm recordings for RCA Victor, including the two Roumanian Rhapsodies by George Enescu. (Much later, in 1960, the NSO 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. [22] ) 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-Saëns, 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 with the orchestra for Deutsche Grammophon. The orchestra returned to RCA Victor under Leonard Slatkin, until RCA abandoned new classical recordings.

In July 2022, the NSO announced the formation of its own record label, to feature commercial releases of selected live performances. [23]

Additional activities

The NSO's additional programmes include the National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute. [24] [25]

First Lady Nancy Reagan conducts the National Symphony Orchestra, 1987 Nancy Reagan directs the National Symphony.jpg
First Lady Nancy Reagan conducts the National Symphony Orchestra, 1987

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. During his tenure, Slatkin founded the National Conducting Institute in 2000.

As well, the NSO has presented 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.

Music directors

Related Research Articles

The BBC Symphony Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. Founded in 1930, it was the first permanent salaried orchestra in London, and is the only one of the city's five major symphony orchestras not to be self-governing. The BBC SO is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Symphony Orchestra</span> Orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891, the ensemble has been based in the Symphony Center since 1904 and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. Klaus Mäkelä was named music director-designate in 2024, with his first contractual season to begin in 2027. The orchestra's most recent music director is Riccardo Muti, whose tenure spanned 13 seasons, from 2010 to 2023, and he continues to perform on occasion as director-emeritus. The CSO is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Symphony Orchestra</span> American orchestra

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Michigan. Its primary performance venue is Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown neighborhood. Jader Bignamini is the current music director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, with Jeff Tyzik as Principal Pops Conductor, Enrico Lopez-Yañez as Principal Pops Conductor Designate, and Na'Zir McFadden as assistant conductor. Leonard Slatkin, the previous music director, is the orchestra's current music director laureate. Neeme Järvi, music director from 1990 to 2005, is the orchestra's current music director emeritus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philadelphia Orchestra</span> American symphony orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription concerts, numbering over 130 annually, at Marian Anderson Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Orchestra</span> Symphonic orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Slatkin</span> American conductor, author and composer (born 1944)

Leonard Edward Slatkin is an American conductor, author and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Louis Symphony Orchestra</span> American symphony orchestra in St. Louis, MO

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest professional symphony orchestra in the United States, preceded only by the New York Philharmonic. Its principal concert venue is Powell Hall, located in midtown St. Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christoph Eschenbach</span> German pianist and conductor

Christoph Eschenbach is a German pianist and conductor.

The BBC Philharmonic is a national British broadcasting symphony orchestra and is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The Philharmonic is a department of the BBC North Group division based at MediaCityUK, Salford. The orchestra's primary concert venue is the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iván Fischer</span> Hungarian conductor and composer

Iván Fischer is a Hungarian conductor and composer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Mitchell</span> American conductor

Howard Mitchell was an American cellist and conductor. He was principal conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra from 1949 to 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hans Kindler</span>

Johannes Hendrikus Philip Kindler was a Dutch American cellist and conductor who founded the National Symphony Orchestra. He was married to painter Alice Kindler and Persis Chase Myers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gianandrea Noseda</span> Italian conductor (born 1964)

Gianandrea Noseda is an Italian conductor. He is currently the music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.; general music director (Generalmusikdirektor) of Zurich Opera; principal guest conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra; and the music director of the Tsinandali Festival in Tsinandali, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European Union Youth Orchestra</span> Youth orchestra of the European Union

The European Union Youth Orchestra (EUYO) is a youth orchestra with members drawn from the 27 members states of the European Union. Since its foundation in 1976, it has connected music colleges and the professional music world for generations of European musicians. EUYO is considered one of the best youth orchestras in the world, achieving "extraordinarily high standards" and playing at all major European festivals, including the Proms, the Salzburg Festival, and Young Euro Classic.

The Master Chorale of Washington, formerly the Paul Hill Chorale, was a symphonic choir based in Washington, D.C., composed of approximately 126 auditioned volunteer choristers and twenty-four professional choristers. Its most recent music director was Donald McCullough (1997–2009).

The Choral Arts Society of Washington is a major choral organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1965 by Norman Scribner, it is regarded as one of the premier symphonic choruses in the United States. The Choral Arts Society of Washington consists of three vocal ensembles; the Choral Arts Chorus, the Choral Arts Chamber Singers, and the Choral Arts Youth Choir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marcelo Lehninger</span> Music director

Marcelo Lehninger is music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony, a professional orchestra located in Michigan, U.S.A., and artistic director of the Bellingham Festival of Music in Washington State.

Abel Pereira is a Portuguese horn player. He played as soloist and principal horn in major European orchestras, such as Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Berlin Philharmonic and London Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2014, he has been Principal Horn of Washington's National Symphony Orchestra. Pereira won several awards and prizes, including the 1998 European Master Prize.

Shadows, Op. 52, is an orchestral prelude by the Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen, who wrote the piece in 1982 on commission from the National Symphony Orchestra Association. The prelude's thematic material is closely related to Act III of Sallinen's third opera, The King Goes Forth to France, on which he also was at work in 1982, writing Shadows upon completion of Act II of the opera. Nevertheless, the composer has emphasized that Shadows is "an entirely independent orchestral work", albeit one whose "lyrical and dramatic ingredients reflect the philosophy of the opera". The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) premiered the work on 30 November 1982 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., under the direction of its music director, Mstislav Rostropovich. Shadows so impressed Rostropovich and his orchestra that the NSO requested Sallinen compose a symphony for them, the result of which would be the Fifth (1985).

The Washington Chorus is a symphonic choir based in Washington, D.C., United States. The three-time nominated and two-time Grammy Award-winning ensemble has 160 members and often performs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Strathmore, and the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, as of 2020.

References

  1. ↑ Uncle Dave Lewis. Hans Kindler Biography at AllMusic . Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  2. ↑ Tim Page (September 4, 2005). "The NSO: 75 and Counting Its Blessings". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  3. ↑ Bernstein, Adam (March 30, 2005). "Esteemed NSO Harpist Sylvia Meyer". The Washington Post .
  4. ↑ Frank, Janet (2013). ""Musical Chairs: a veteran cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra takes a closer look at the entrances and exits of world-famous conductors"". The American Scholar .
  5. ↑ Tim Page (November 18, 2004). "Slatkin, NSO to Part in 2008". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Q&A: Iván Fischer". Playbill Arts . October 19, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  7. ↑ Tim Page (February 12, 2007). "Ivan Fischer: Plays Well With Children". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 18, 2007.
  8. ↑ Tim Page (April 12, 2007). "NSO Picks Fischer as Interim Maestro". The Washington Post . Retrieved April 13, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Iván Fischer Appointed Principal Conductor of DC's National Symphony Orchestra". Playbill Arts . April 12, 2007. Retrieved April 14, 2007.
  10. ↑ Anne Midgette (September 25, 2008). "Christoph Eschenbach to Lead National Symphony". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 25, 2008.
  11. ↑ Ten years later, NSO records again. (2011, February 1). School Band and Orchestra, 14(2), 6.
  12. ↑ Anne Midgette (September 25, 2011). "Kennedy Center extends Eschenbach's contract; new organ in works". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  13. ↑ "Christoph Eschenbach Extends Contract as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra and Kennedy Center Through the 2016–2017 Season" (PDF). Kennedy Center Press Release. March 24, 2014. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ Anne Midgette (February 18, 2015). "Eschenbach's NSO contract to end in 2017; will become conductor laureate". The Washington Post . Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  15. ↑ Anne Midgette (January 4, 2016). "National Symphony Orchestra names rising star Gianandrea Noseda as music director". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 7, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Gianandrea Noseda Named Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra" (Press release). Kennedy Center. January 4, 2016. Archived from the original on January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  17. ↑ Anne Midgette (September 23, 2018). "Noseda extends NSO contract; will stay through 2024–2025 season". The Washington Post . Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  18. ↑ Siler, B. C. (2022, September 15). National Symphony Orchestra Returns to East of the River . The Washington Informer , 57(48), 36.
  19. ↑ "National Symphony Orchestra Extends Gianandrea Noseda's Contract as Music Director Through the 2026–2027 Season" (Press release). National Symphony Orchestra. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
  20. ↑ "Jean Davidson Appointed Executive Director of the National Symphony Orchestra Beginning April 1, 2023" (Press release). National Symphony Orchestra. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
  21. ↑ Javier C. Hernández (2024-09-27). "National Symphony Orchestra Players Reach Deal After Brief Strike". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  22. ↑ Programme for National Symphony Orchestra performances of December 13–15, 1960.
  23. ↑ Rob Brunner (2022-07-05). "The National Symphony Orchestra Has its Own Indie Record Label". Washingtonian. Retrieved 2023-03-11.
  24. ↑ Wysocki, Carole (1984). ""The National Symphony Orchestra: An Educational Resource for the Community"". ProQuest . ProQuest   1296332183.
  25. ↑ "My NSO Summer Music Institute experience" . Retrieved 2023-06-12.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.