Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) (Montréal Symphony Orchestra) is a symphony orchestra based in Montréal
, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts
as its home.
There have been a number of organizations with this name, including one formed in 1897, which lasted ten years, and another formed in 1930, which lasted eleven. The current ensemble, however, traces its roots back to 1934; Wilfrid Pelletier
formed an ensemble called Les Concerts Symphoniques which gave its first concert on 14 January 1935 under conductor Rosario Bourdon
. The Orchestra acquired its current name in 1954. In the early 1960s, when the Orchestra was preparing to move to new facilities at Place des Arts, patron and prominent Montréal philanthropist, John Wilson McConnell
, purchased the Laub-Petschnikoff Stradivarius
violin of 1727 for Calvin Sieb, the Symphony's concertmaster.
Though it began touring and recording modestly in the 1960s and early 1970s under the batons of a young Zubin Mehta
and Franz-Paul Decker
, the MSO became a household name under the directorship of Charles Dutoit
, who became music director in 1977 after the brief tenure and jolting departure of Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
. Dutoit struck up a friendship with a producer at London/Decca records named Ray Minshull, and a twenty-year collaboration was born. Throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s, Dutoit and the MSO released many well-received recordings and embarked on tours of North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. Most notable among this vast discography are the recordings of the French repertoire, especially the music of Maurice Ravel
.
In recent years, the MSO has fallen on tough times. The London/Decca recordings ceased in the late 1990s as the entire recording industry was turned upside-down, and the international tours dried up soon afterward. Then, in 2002, the MSO suffered the abrupt resignation of Charles Dutoit as music director. History has a tendency to repeat itself, and Dutoit's departure, like that of his predecessor Fruhbeck a quarter of a century earlier, occurred due to a minor spat pitting the ego of the individual against the ego of the collective. Here, the resignation was ultimately the result of an inflammatory public letter written by the head of the Québec musicians' guild on behalf of the MSO's musicians. This letter, precipitated by Dutoit's decision to begin termination proceedings on two MSO musicians for artistic reasons, publicly aired years of bottled-up hostility, accusing Dutoit of being a tyrant and portraying the musicians as battered spouses.
In March 2003, the orchestra announced that Kent Nagano
would be its new music director starting in 2006, with a contract running to 2012. He gave his first concert in Montréal as music director-designate on March 30, 2005. Later in 2005, the MSO's musicians went on strike for the second time in less than a decade. Unlike the 1998 strike, which lasted a mere three weeks and was resolved largely due to the personal relationship between Dutoit and Lucien Bouchard
, then the premier of Québec
, this much more acrimonious work stoppage lasted five months, ending shortly before concerts to be conducted by Nagano.
The MSO and Charles Dutoit have received accolades for their numerous recordings, including the Grand Prix du Président de la République (France) and the Prix mondial du Disque de Montreux. The MSO won Grammy awards in 1996 for their recording of Hector Berlioz
' Les Troyens
and in 2000 for Sergei Prokofiev
and Béla Bartók
piano concerti with Martha Argerich
on EMI
, and additionally it has also won a number of Juno Award
s and Felix Awards.
The MSO hopes that 2011 will see a renaissance for the orchestra, with a new purpose-built Symphony Hall at Place des Arts opening in September.
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Québec, Canada, with Montréal's Place des Arts
Place des Arts
right|frame|View of the Place des Arts esplanade. The Musée d'art contemporain is on the left; behind it is the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier, with the Théâtre Maisonneuve on the rightPlace des Arts is a major performing arts centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada....
as its home.
History
Wilfrid Pelletier
Joseph Louis Wilfrid Pelletier , CC was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and arts administrator. He was instrumental in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, serving as the orchestra's first artistic director and conductor from 1935-1941...
formed an ensemble called Les Concerts Symphoniques which gave its first concert on 14 January 1935 under conductor Rosario Bourdon
Rosario Bourdon
Joseph Charles Rosario Bourdon D.Mus. was a French Canadian cellist, violinist, conductor, arranger and composer. He was a child prodigy skilled with many musical instruments...
. The Orchestra acquired its current name in 1954. In the early 1960s, when the Orchestra was preparing to move to new facilities at Place des Arts, patron and prominent Montréal philanthropist, John Wilson McConnell
John Wilson McConnell
John Wilson McConnell was a Canadian businessman, newspaper publisher, humanitarian, and the most significant philanthropist in the history of the province of Quebec, Canada.-Early life:...
, purchased the Laub-Petschnikoff Stradivarius
Laub-Petschnikoff Stradivarius
The Laub-Petschnikoff Stradivarius of 1722 is an antique violin fabricated by Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari of Cremona . It is one of only 700 known extant Stradivarius instruments in the world today....
violin of 1727 for Calvin Sieb, the Symphony's concertmaster.
Though it began touring and recording modestly in the 1960s and early 1970s under the batons of a young 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:...
and Franz-Paul Decker
Franz-Paul Decker
Franz-Paul Decker is a German-born conductor.-Biography:Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst...
, the MSO became a household name under the directorship of Charles Dutoit
Charles Dutoit
Charles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music...
, who became music director in 1977 after the brief tenure and jolting departure of Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos is a Spanish conductor and composer.Frühbeck studied violin, piano, and composition at the conservatories of Bilbao and Madrid...
. Dutoit struck up a friendship with a producer at London/Decca records named Ray Minshull, and a twenty-year collaboration was born. Throughout much of the 1980s and 1990s, Dutoit and the MSO released many well-received recordings and embarked on tours of North America, Europe, Asia, and South America. Most notable among this vast discography are the recordings of the French repertoire, especially the music of Maurice Ravel
Maurice Ravel
Joseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
.
In recent years, the MSO has fallen on tough times. The London/Decca recordings ceased in the late 1990s as the entire recording industry was turned upside-down, and the international tours dried up soon afterward. Then, in 2002, the MSO suffered the abrupt resignation of Charles Dutoit as music director. History has a tendency to repeat itself, and Dutoit's departure, like that of his predecessor Fruhbeck a quarter of a century earlier, occurred due to a minor spat pitting the ego of the individual against the ego of the collective. Here, the resignation was ultimately the result of an inflammatory public letter written by the head of the Québec musicians' guild on behalf of the MSO's musicians. This letter, precipitated by Dutoit's decision to begin termination proceedings on two MSO musicians for artistic reasons, publicly aired years of bottled-up hostility, accusing Dutoit of being a tyrant and portraying the musicians as battered spouses.
In March 2003, the orchestra announced that Kent Nagano
Kent Nagano
__FORCETOC__Kent George Nagano is an American conductor and opera administrator. He is currently the music director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the Bavarian State Opera.-Biography:...
would be its new music director starting in 2006, with a contract running to 2012. He gave his first concert in Montréal as music director-designate on March 30, 2005. Later in 2005, the MSO's musicians went on strike for the second time in less than a decade. Unlike the 1998 strike, which lasted a mere three weeks and was resolved largely due to the personal relationship between Dutoit and Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard
Lucien Bouchard, is a Canadian lawyer, diplomat, politician and former Minister of the Environment of the Canadian Federal Government. He was the Leader of Opposition in the Canadian House of Commons from 1993 to 1996, and the 27th Premier of Quebec from January 29, 1996 to March 8, 2001...
, then the premier of Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, this much more acrimonious work stoppage lasted five months, ending shortly before concerts to be conducted by Nagano.
The MSO and Charles Dutoit have received accolades for their numerous recordings, including the Grand Prix du Président de la République (France) and the Prix mondial du Disque de Montreux. The MSO won Grammy awards in 1996 for their recording of Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
' Les Troyens
Les Troyens
Les Troyens is a French opera in five acts by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself, based on Virgil's epic poem The Aeneid...
and in 2000 for Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
and Béla Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
piano concerti with Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich
Martha Argerich is an Argentine pianist.-Early life:Argerich was born in Buenos Aires and started playing the piano at age three...
on EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, and additionally it has also won a number of Juno Award
Juno Award
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music...
s and Felix Awards.
The MSO hopes that 2011 will see a renaissance for the orchestra, with a new purpose-built Symphony Hall at Place des Arts opening in September.
Music directors and leaders
|
Franz-Paul Decker Franz-Paul Decker is a German-born conductor.-Biography:Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst... Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos is a Spanish conductor and composer.Frühbeck studied violin, piano, and composition at the conservatories of Bilbao and Madrid... Charles Dutoit Charles Édouard Dutoit, is a Swiss conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of French and Russian 20th century music... Jacques Lacombe Jacques Lacombe is a Canadian conductor.Lacombe began his musical learning with choral singing. He later trained as an organist, and continued his studies at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal and at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna... (Principal Guest Conductor) Kent Nagano __FORCETOC__Kent George Nagano is an American conductor and opera administrator. He is currently the music director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the Bavarian State Opera.-Biography:... |
See also
- Culture of QuébecCulture of QuebecThe Culture of Quebec emerged over the last few hundred years, resulting from the shared history of the French-speaking majority in Quebec. It is unique to the Western World; Quebec is the only region in North America with a French-speaking majority, as well as one of only two provinces in Canada...
- List of Quebec musicians
- Music of QuébecMusic of QuebecBeing a modern cosmopolitan society, today, all types of music can be found in the Canadian province of Quebec. What is specific to Quebec though are traditional songs, a unique variety of Celtic music, legions of excellent jazz musicians, a culture of classical music, and a love of foreign rhythms...
- St. Lawrence ChoirSt. Lawrence ChoirRecognized across North America as one of Canada’s best choral ensembles, the 80-strong, mixed-voice performs music from the classical choral repertoire as well as contemporary works by Canadian and other composers. 2011-2012 marks the 40th anniversary season of the St. Lawrence Choir.Since 2008...