Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg
The Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg (Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra) is a French orchestra based in Strasbourg. It is one of the two permanent orchestras of the Opéra national du Rhin (the other being the Orchestre symphonique de Mulhouse). The orchestra's current principal venue is the Palais de la musique et des congrès 'Pierre Pflimlin' (PMC Pierre-Pflimlin, or PMC).
Awarded the label of “National Orchestra” in 1994, it ranks as one of the major orchestras in France. With 110 permanent musicians perpetuating its dual French/German tradition, the Orchestra is engaged in an ambitious project centred on symphonic music. Its international renown is constantly enhanced by its dynamic audio-visual coverage.
The Orchestra contributes to Strasbourg's outreach with regular performances in landmark venues throughout France and Europe including the Philharmonie de Paris, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, KKL in Lucerne, Gasteig in Munich, Musikverein in Vienna, etc. It has resumed its grand international tours which have already taken the Orchestra to Japan, Brazil and Argentina. In June 2017, it gave a series of concerts in South Korea, which were so successful that the Orchestra was immediately invited to come back for another season.
The Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg embarked on a far-reaching audio-visual policy from the 1970s, creating archives of its greatest musical moments. With an impressive discography to its name, the Orchestra caused a sensation with its recording of two landmark opuses by Berlioz: Les Troyens and La Damnation de Faust, unanimously acclaimed by critics worldwide. This cycle will be pursued with a CD bringing together Les nuits d’été and Harold en Italie, Roméo et Juliette and L’Enfance du Christ. The Orchestra was acclaimed for its release of BariTenor with Michael Spyres (September 21).
History
The orchestra was founded in 1855. Between 1871 and 1918, and 1940 and 1944, the orchestra had been a German one, resulting from conflicts between France and Germany over the Alsace region. In 1994, the orchestra acquired the official title of Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg – orchestre national. Composers-in-residence have included the French composers Jean-Louis Agobet and Philippe Manoury, the Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and the American composer John Corigliano.
Past music directors and chief conductors have included Hans Pfitzner, Hans Rosbaud, Ernest Bour, Jan Latham-Koenig, Charles Bruck and Alain Lombard. Marc Albrecht became artistic advisor of the orchestra in 2005, and music director in 2008. Albrecht and the orchestra have recorded commercially for PENTATONE, including orchestral lieder of Alban Berg, and piano concertos by Robert Schumann and Antonín Dvořák.[1] Albrecht concluded his tenure in 2011.
Aziz Shokhakimov took over as the 15th Musical and artistic director of the Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg from September 2021 with an initial contract of 3 seasons.[2] After 9 years under the baton of Marko Letonja, the Orchestra is embarking on a new era in its history.
Music directors
- Josef Hasselmans (1855–1871)
- Franz Stockhausen (1871–1907)
- Hans Pfitzner (1907–1915)
- Otto Klemperer (1915–1918)
- Hans Pfitzner (1918–1919)
- Guy Ropartz (1919–1929)
- Paul Paray (1929–1940)
- Hans Rosbaud (1940–1945)
- Paul Bastide (1945–1950)
- Ernest Bour (1950–1964)
- Alceo Galliera (1964–1971)
- Alain Lombard (1971–1983)
- Theodor Guschlbauer (1983–1997)[3]
- Jan Latham Koenig (1997–2003)
- Marc Albrecht (2008–2011)
- Marko Letonja (2012–2021)
- Aziz Shokhakimov (2021–present)
References
- ^ Andrew Clements (2009-12-04). "Schumann: Piano Concerto; Dvorák: Piano Concerto: Helmchen/Strasbourg PO/Albrecht". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-12-06.
- ^ "Aziz Shokhakimov: nouveau directeur musical et artistique de l'Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg" (Press release). Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg. 15 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
- ^ For conductors from 1855 to 1987: Van Boer Jnr, BH, Fast, ML. Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra. In: Symphony Orchestras of the World, ed Craven RR. Greenword Press, New York, 1987.