Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is an Australia
n orchestra
, based principally in Brisbane
in the state of Queensland
.
The QSO played its first concert on 26 March 1947, with the orchestra consisting of 45 musicians, conducted by Percy Code. John Farnsworth Hall
was recruited from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
as the orchestra's first chief conductor. The orchestra played concerts in various Queensland cities and towns, such as Innisfail and Townsville, travelling up to 3500 miles a year in the process.
In 2001, the QSO was merged with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, to form The Queensland Orchestra (TQO). On 14 October 2009, the orchestra announced a reversion of its name back to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, effective in 2010.
The orchestra is funded by private corporations, the state government and the Australian federal government through the Australia Council. Most of the orchestra's performances take place in Brisbane
at three venues:
In addition, the orchestra tours other parts of the state of Queensland regularly, including the following locations:
The orchestra's discography includes Tchaikovsky
's 1812 Overture
, and several works of Benjamin Frankel
, including his eight symphonies, violin concerto, viola concerto, and several film score suites.
The orchestra's longest-serving chief conductor was the Czech-born Rudolf Pekárek
(1954–67). Muhai Tang
has held the title of conductor laureate with from November 2005. Michael Christie
was the first chief conductor of the orchestra under its new name, from 2001 to 2004. In July 2007, Johannes Fritzsch
was named the next chief conductor of the orchestra, beginning in January 2008, with an initial contract through 2010. In February 2010, the orchestra announced a 3-year extension of Fritzsch's contract as chief conductor, through 2013.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n orchestra
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 principally in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in the state of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
The QSO played its first concert on 26 March 1947, with the orchestra consisting of 45 musicians, conducted by Percy Code. John Farnsworth Hall
John Farnsworth Hall
John Farnsworth Hall was an Australian conductor and violinist.He was a member of the Farmers Trio, a pioneering radio chamber trio, in 1923. The other members were Horace Keats, piano, and John Boatwright, cello....
was recruited from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
as the orchestra's first chief conductor. The orchestra played concerts in various Queensland cities and towns, such as Innisfail and Townsville, travelling up to 3500 miles a year in the process.
In 2001, the QSO was merged with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, to form The Queensland Orchestra (TQO). On 14 October 2009, the orchestra announced a reversion of its name back to the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, effective in 2010.
The orchestra is funded by private corporations, the state government and the Australian federal government through the Australia Council. Most of the orchestra's performances take place in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
at three venues:
- Queensland Performing Arts CentreQueensland Performing Arts CentreThe Queensland Performing Arts Centre is part of the Queensland Cultural Centre and is located on the corner of Melbourne Street and Grey Street in Brisbane's South Bank precinct....
(QPAC) Concert Hall - Griffith UniversityGriffith UniversityGriffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
Conservatorium - Brisbane City HallBrisbane City HallBrisbane City Hall, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, is the seat of the Brisbane City Council. It is located adjacent to King George Square, where the rectangular City Hall has its main entrance. The City Hall also has frontages and entrances in both Ann Street and Adelaide Street...
.
In addition, the orchestra tours other parts of the state of Queensland regularly, including the following locations:
- Gold Coast Art CentreGold Coast Art CentreThe Arts Centre Gold Coast is a set of facilities that sits on the banks of the Nerang River in the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. A large jetty makes the Arts Centre accessible by boat...
- The Events Centre, Caloundra
- Empire Theatres, Toowoomba
- Pilbeam Theatre, Rockhampton
- Mackay Entertainment Centre
- Townsville Civic Theatre
- Cairns Civic Theatre.
The orchestra's discography includes Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's 1812 Overture
1812 Overture
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture or the Overture of 1812 is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of...
, and several works of Benjamin Frankel
Benjamin Frankel
Benjamin Frankel was a British composer. Frankel's most famous pieces include a cycle of five string quartets and eight symphonies as well as a number of concertos for violin and viola; his single best-known piece is probably the First Sonata for Solo Violin, which, like his concertos, resulted...
, including his eight symphonies, violin concerto, viola concerto, and several film score suites.
The orchestra's longest-serving chief conductor was the Czech-born Rudolf Pekárek
Rudolf Pekárek
Rudolf Pekárek was a Czech-Australian conductor.In 1934 he founded the Prague Symphony Orchestra, giving work to many unemployed musicians. It was known as the FOK Orchestra , or the FOK Salon Orchestra or sometimes Pekarek's Salon Orchestra...
(1954–67). Muhai Tang
Muhai Tang
Muhai Tang is a Chinese conductor. He is the youngest son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan and brother of painter and poet Tang Muli....
has held the title of conductor laureate with from November 2005. Michael Christie
Michael Christie (conductor)
Michael Christie is an American conductor. He graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance...
was the first chief conductor of the orchestra under its new name, from 2001 to 2004. In July 2007, Johannes Fritzsch
Johannes Fritzsch
Johannes Fritzsch is a German conductor. His father, a cantor and organist, was his first music teacher, in piano and organ. Later, he studied violin and trumpet...
was named the next chief conductor of the orchestra, beginning in January 2008, with an initial contract through 2010. In February 2010, the orchestra announced a 3-year extension of Fritzsch's contract as chief conductor, through 2013.
Chief conductors
- John Farnsworth HallJohn Farnsworth HallJohn Farnsworth Hall was an Australian conductor and violinist.He was a member of the Farmers Trio, a pioneering radio chamber trio, in 1923. The other members were Horace Keats, piano, and John Boatwright, cello....
(1947–1954) - Rudolf PekárekRudolf PekárekRudolf Pekárek was a Czech-Australian conductor.In 1934 he founded the Prague Symphony Orchestra, giving work to many unemployed musicians. It was known as the FOK Orchestra , or the FOK Salon Orchestra or sometimes Pekarek's Salon Orchestra...
(1954–67) - Stanford RobinsonStanford RobinsonStanford Robinson OBE was an English conductor and composer, known for his work with the BBC. He remained a member of the BBC's staff until his retirement in 1966, founding or building up the organisation's choral groups, both amateur and professional.Between 1947 and 1950, Robinson was Assistant...
(1968–1969) - Ezra RachlinEzra RachlinEzra Rachlin was an American conductor and pianist.Rachlin was born in Hollywood and first showed an interest in the piano at the age of three. He gave his first full-length recital at age five. The Rachlins moved to Germany to assist Ezra in his studies...
(1970–1972) - Patrick ThomasPatrick Thomas (conductor)Patrick Thomas MBE is an Australian conductor.For a period of almost 35 years he conducted hundreds of performances across Australia in just about every centre where the various state symphony orchestras ventured, and introduced music to virtually a whole generation of young Australians through...
(1973–1977) - Werner Andreas AlbertWerner Andreas AlbertWerner Andreas Albert is a German conductor.He began his studies in musicology and history, and later studying conducting with Herbert von Karajan and Hans Rosbaud. After his 1961 debut with the Heidelberg Chamber Orchestra, he became chief conductor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie...
(1983–1990) - Muhai TangMuhai TangMuhai Tang is a Chinese conductor. He is the youngest son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan and brother of painter and poet Tang Muli....
(1991–2001; now Conductor Laureate) - Michael ChristieMichael Christie (conductor)Michael Christie is an American conductor. He graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor’s degree in trumpet performance...
(2001–2004; as The Queensland Orchestra) - Johannes FritzschJohannes FritzschJohannes Fritzsch is a German conductor. His father, a cantor and organist, was his first music teacher, in piano and organ. Later, he studied violin and trumpet...
(2007–present; initially as The Queensland Orchestra, and from 2010 as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra)