Bruckner Orchestra Linz
Encyclopedia
The Bruckner Orchester Linz is an Austria
n orchestra based in Linz
. It is especially associated with the music of Linz-Land
native Anton Bruckner
. The parent ensemble of the orchestra is the Linz Theater Orchestra. The orchestra acquired its current name in 1967, under conductor and musicologist Kurt Wöss
, who subsequently served as chief conductor. The orchestra has made many recordings of Bruckner symphonies, especially with guest conductor Kurt Eichhorn
. The orchestra also performs as the orchestra of the Landestheater Linz (Upper Austrian State Theatre).
Since 2002, the orchestra's chief conductor is Dennis Russell Davies
. His current contract in Linz is through 2014.
Consisting of 110 musicians, the orchestra is not only the concert orchestra for the state of Upper Austria but also the opera orchestra at the Landestheater Linz, and participates in the Bruckner Festival, the Ars Electronica Festival and the Linzer Klangwolke. The Bruckner Orchester Linz has performed extensively in The United States (2005, 2009), Germany, Spain and Italy under Chief Conductor Dennis Russell Davies in addition to appearances in Japan and France. Recent tours have featured concerts in New York City, Paris, Vienna and Istanbul.
The Bruckner Orchester records prolifically including recent productions of Bruckner’s “Nullte” and 5th symphonies in completion of a Bruckner cycle for arte nova/SONY as well as of Symphonies 6, 7 and 8 by Philip Glass. The orchestra has already gained an excellent reputation for its recordings of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Siegfried Matthus, Franz Schmidt, Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Gustav Holst.
During its long and venerable history, the orchestra has performed with such luminaries as Clemens Kraus, Hans Knappertsbusch
, Sergiu Celibidache
, Kurt Eichhorn
, Vaclav Neumann
, and Christoph von Dohnányi. In recent times, the distinguished roster has included Zubin Mehta
, Serge Baudo, Horst Stein, Vladimir Fedosejew, Michael Gielen, Bernhard Klee, Steven Sloane, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and Franz Welser-Möst. The Resident Conductor is Ingo Ingensand. Maestro Heinrich Schiff
appears regularly with the orchestra, both as soloist and as conductor. He was named the Principal Guest Conductor in 2004.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
n orchestra based in Linz
Linz
Linz is the third-largest city of Austria and capital of the state of Upper Austria . It is located in the north centre of Austria, approximately south of the Czech border, on both sides of the river Danube. The population of the city is , and that of the Greater Linz conurbation is about...
. It is especially associated with the music of Linz-Land
Linz-Land
Bezirk Linz-Land is a district of the state ofUpper Austria in Austria.- Municipalities :Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.*Allhaming*Ansfelden*Asten*Eggendorf im...
native Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
. The parent ensemble of the orchestra is the Linz Theater Orchestra. The orchestra acquired its current name in 1967, under conductor and musicologist Kurt Wöss
Kurt Wöss
Kurt Wöss was an Austrian conductor and musicologist.Wöss was principal conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra from 1951 to 1954. From 1956 to 1959 he was chief conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra .-References:...
, who subsequently served as chief conductor. The orchestra has made many recordings of Bruckner symphonies, especially with guest conductor Kurt Eichhorn
Kurt Eichhorn
Kurt Peter Eichhorn , was a German conductor.Eichhorn was born in Munich, the son of a painter. He studied music at the conservatory in Würzburg with Hermann Zilcher. His conducting debut was in 1932 as a conductor and choral conductor in Bielefeld...
. The orchestra also performs as the orchestra of the Landestheater Linz (Upper Austrian State Theatre).
Since 2002, the orchestra's chief conductor is Dennis Russell Davies
Dennis Russell Davies
Dennis Russell Davies is an American conductor and pianist. He studied piano and conducting at the Juilliard School where he received his doctorate...
. His current contract in Linz is through 2014.
History
The history of the Bruckner Orchester Linz spans 200 years of tradition and excellence. In the last three decades, it has won an international reputation as one of the leading orchestras of Central Europe.Consisting of 110 musicians, the orchestra is not only the concert orchestra for the state of Upper Austria but also the opera orchestra at the Landestheater Linz, and participates in the Bruckner Festival, the Ars Electronica Festival and the Linzer Klangwolke. The Bruckner Orchester Linz has performed extensively in The United States (2005, 2009), Germany, Spain and Italy under Chief Conductor Dennis Russell Davies in addition to appearances in Japan and France. Recent tours have featured concerts in New York City, Paris, Vienna and Istanbul.
The Bruckner Orchester records prolifically including recent productions of Bruckner’s “Nullte” and 5th symphonies in completion of a Bruckner cycle for arte nova/SONY as well as of Symphonies 6, 7 and 8 by Philip Glass. The orchestra has already gained an excellent reputation for its recordings of works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Siegfried Matthus, Franz Schmidt, Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Gustav Holst.
During its long and venerable history, the orchestra has performed with such luminaries as Clemens Kraus, Hans Knappertsbusch
Hans Knappertsbusch
Hans Knappertsbusch was a German conductor, best known for his performances of the music of Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner and Richard Strauss....
, Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache
- Biography :Celibidache was born in Roman, Romania, and began his studies in music with the piano, after which he studied music, philosophy and mathematics in Bucharest, Romania and then in Paris...
, Kurt Eichhorn
Kurt Eichhorn
Kurt Peter Eichhorn , was a German conductor.Eichhorn was born in Munich, the son of a painter. He studied music at the conservatory in Würzburg with Hermann Zilcher. His conducting debut was in 1932 as a conductor and choral conductor in Bielefeld...
, Vaclav Neumann
Václav Neumann
Václav Neumann was a Czech conductor, violinist and viola player.Neumann was born in Prague where he studied at the Prague Conservatory, with Josef Micka , and with Pavel Dědeček and Metod Doležil . He co-founded, and played 1st violin in, the Smetana Quartet, before holding conducting posts in...
, and Christoph von Dohnányi. In recent times, the distinguished roster has included Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta
Zubin Mehta is an Indian conductor of western classical music. He is the Music Director for Life of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.-Biography:...
, Serge Baudo, Horst Stein, Vladimir Fedosejew, Michael Gielen, Bernhard Klee, Steven Sloane, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski and Franz Welser-Möst. The Resident Conductor is Ingo Ingensand. Maestro Heinrich Schiff
Heinrich Schiff
Heinrich Schiff is an Austrian cellist and conductor. He studied cello with Tobias Kühne and André Navarra and made his solo debut in Vienna and London in 1971...
appears regularly with the orchestra, both as soloist and as conductor. He was named the Principal Guest Conductor in 2004.
Chief conductors
- Kurt WössKurt WössKurt Wöss was an Austrian conductor and musicologist.Wöss was principal conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra from 1951 to 1954. From 1956 to 1959 he was chief conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra .-References:...
(1967–1975) - Theodor GuschlbauerTheodor GuschlbauerTheodor Guschlbauer is an Austrian conductor.-External links:*...
(1975–1983) - Roman Zeilinger (1983–1985)
- Manfred Mayrhofer (1985–1992)
- Martin Sieghart (1992–2000)
- Dennis Russell DaviesDennis Russell DaviesDennis Russell Davies is an American conductor and pianist. He studied piano and conducting at the Juilliard School where he received his doctorate...
(2002–)