Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Göteborgs Symfoniker (Gothenburg Symphony, or Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra) is an orchestra
based in Gothenburg
, Sweden
. Founded in 1905, it was granted the title of the "National Orchestra of Sweden" in 1997. The GSO is resident at the Gothenburg Concert Hall
, built in 1935.
Although the GSO has a broad repertoire, it has a special affinity for the works of the Nordic Late Romantic composers, such as Jean Sibelius
and Edvard Grieg
, which has comprised the bulk of its recorded output, as well as Neeme Järvi
's specialty, Prokofiev. During Järvi's 22 years as principal conductor, the orchestra's longest, its reputation on the world stage was greatly increased, including sponsorships from Volvo
and a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon
. Järvi currently holds the title of Principal Conductor Emeritus (Chefdirigent Emeritus) with the GSO.
Since 2007, the orchestra's principal conductor has been Gustavo Dudamel
. In 2008, his initial contract with the GSO was extended to 2011, and in September 2009 his contract was further extended to 2012. The orchestra's current principal guest conductor is Christian Zacharias
.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
based in Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Founded in 1905, it was granted the title of the "National Orchestra of Sweden" in 1997. The GSO is resident at the Gothenburg Concert Hall
Gothenburg Concert Hall
Gothenburg Concert Hall is located in Gothenburg, Sweden and was built in 1935. The architect for the facility was Nils Einar Ericsson, a major advocate of Functionalism...
, built in 1935.
Although the GSO has a broad repertoire, it has a special affinity for the works of the Nordic Late Romantic composers, such as Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius
Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the later Romantic period whose music played an important role in the formation of the Finnish national identity. His mastery of the orchestra has been described as "prodigious."...
and Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
, which has comprised the bulk of its recorded output, as well as Neeme Järvi
Neeme Järvi
Neeme Järvi is an Estonian-born conductor.-Early life:Järvi studied music first in Tallinn, and later in Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolai Rabinovich, among others...
's specialty, Prokofiev. During Järvi's 22 years as principal conductor, the orchestra's longest, its reputation on the world stage was greatly increased, including sponsorships from Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
and a recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon
Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
. Järvi currently holds the title of Principal Conductor Emeritus (Chefdirigent Emeritus) with the GSO.
Since 2007, the orchestra's principal conductor has been Gustavo Dudamel
Gustavo Dudamel
Gustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez is a Venezuelan conductor and violinist. He is currently the principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in Gothenburg, Sweden, and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Los Angeles, California...
. In 2008, his initial contract with the GSO was extended to 2011, and in September 2009 his contract was further extended to 2012. The orchestra's current principal guest conductor is Christian Zacharias
Christian Zacharias
-Music career:Zacharias studied piano with Irene Slavin and Vlado Perlemuter in Paris. He won the Geneva Competition in 1969 and the Van Cliburn Competition in 1973. After winning the Ravel Competition in Paris in 1975, he launched an international career...
.
Principal Conductors
- 1906-1922 Wilhelm StenhammarWilhelm StenhammarCarl Wilhelm Eugen Stenhammar was a Swedish composer, conductor and pianist.-Biography:Stenhammar was born in Stockholm, where he received his first musical education. He then went to Berlin to further his studies in music. He became a glowing admirer of German music, particularly that of Richard...
- 1922-1925 Ture RangströmTure RangströmAnders Johan Ture Rangström belonged to a new generation of Swedish composers who in the first decade of the 20th century introduced modernism to their compositions. In addition to composing Rangström was also a musical critic and conductor.Rangström was born in Stockholm, where initially he...
- 1925-1939 Tor MannTor MannTor Mann was a Swedish conductor.Mann was principal conductor of the Göteborgs Symfoniker from 1925 to 1939, and the Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester from 1939 to 1959....
- 1941-1953 Issay DobrowenIssay DobrowenIssay Alexandrovich Dobrowen was a Russian-Norwegian pianist, composer and conductor.He was born Itschok Zorachovitch Barabeitchik in Nizhny Novgorod, Russian Empire of Jewish parents. He left the Soviet Union in 1922, and became a Norwegian citizen in 1929.He once played Beethoven's Sonata...
- 1953-1960 Dean DixonDean DixonCharles Dean Dixon was an American conductor.Dixon was born in New York City, where he later studied conducting with Albert Stoessel at the Juilliard School and Columbia University. When early pursuits of conducting engagements were stifled because of racial bias , he formed his own orchestra and...
- 1960-1967 Sten Frykberg
- 1961-1967 Alberto EredeAlberto EredeAlberto Erede was an Italian conductor, particularly associated with operatic work.Born in Genoa, Erede studied there before studying in Milan, then with Felix Weingartner at Basle, and after this with Fritz Busch at Dresden. He made his debut in Turin in 1935, conducting Der Ring des Nibelungen....
and Othmar Mága (regular guest conductors) - 1967-1973 Sergiu ComissionaSergiu ComissionaSergiu Comissiona was a Romanian conductor and violinist.-Early life:...
- 1974-1976 Sixten EhrlingSixten EhrlingSixten Ehrling, , was a Swedish conductor who, during a long career, served as the music director of the Royal Swedish Opera and the principal conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, amongst others....
- 1976-1979 Charles DutoitCharles DutoitCharles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music...
- 1982-2004 Neeme JärviNeeme JärviNeeme Järvi is an Estonian-born conductor.-Early life:Järvi studied music first in Tallinn, and later in Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolai Rabinovich, among others...
- 2004-2007 Mario VenzagoMario VenzagoMario Venzago is a Swiss conductor. His piano studies began at age five. He studied at the conservatory and the university in Zurich...
- 2007-present Gustavo DudamelGustavo DudamelGustavo Adolfo Dudamel Ramírez is a Venezuelan conductor and violinist. He is currently the principal conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony in Gothenburg, Sweden, and music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in Los Angeles, California...