The Sinfonieorchester Basel (Symphony Orchestra Basel; Swiss abbreviation SOB) is a symphony orchestra based in Basel, Switzerland. Its principal concert venue is the Musiksaal of the Stadtcasino. In addition, the orchestra accompanies ballet and opera productions with Theater Basel, and records prolifically, often for Sony Classical. [1]
The orchestra was founded in 1876, in the same year as the music hall Basel (Stadtcasino Basel) was constructed. During its history, the orchestra gave the world premieres of works by such composers as Béla Bartók, Arthur Honegger and Bohuslav Martinů. The orchestra holds its present name of 'Sinfonieorchester Basel' since 1997, when the two orchestras Basler Sinfonie-Orchester and Radio Sinfonieorchester merged into one ensemble. [2] Another milestone in the history of the orchestra was set in 2012, when the Sinfonieorchester Basel and the organizer of many years AMG (in German Allgemeine Musikgesellschaft Basel) decided to go separate ways. Henceforward, the Sinfonieorchester Basel has been organizing its own subscription concerts.
From 2009 to 2016, the orchestra's chief conductor was Dennis Russell Davies. In June 2015, the orchestra announced the appointment of Ivor Bolton as its next chief conductor, as of the 2016–17 season, with an initial contract of four years. [3] Michał Nesterowicz became the orchestra's principal guest conductor as of the 2016–17 season.
The recording 'A different Schumann Vol. 1-3' was awarded the Diapason d’Or in May 2004. The orchestra received the Diapason d'Or for the recording 'Felix Weingartner: Symphonic works I' in September 2005. The recording "Le Sacre du Printemps" received the Supersonic-Prize and was nominated for the ICMA Music Award 2015.
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