Sinfonieorchester Basel
Encyclopedia
The Sinfonieorchester Basel (Symphony Orchestra Basel) is a Swiss orchestra based in Basel
. The orchestra performs symphony concerts at the Musiksaal, Basel. The orchestra also serves as the opera orchestra and ballet orchestra for the Theater Basel
. The orchestra receives funding from the half-cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.
The orchestra was formed in 1997 from the merger of two prior ensembles, the Basler Sinfonie-Orchester (Basel Symphony Orchestra) and the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Basel (Radio Symphony Orchestra Basel). Mario Venzago
was the first chief conductor of the newly formed ensemble, from 1997 to 2003. Marko Letonja succeeded Venzago as chief conductor from 2003 to 2006. In March 2008, the orchestra named Dennis Russell Davies
its third chief conductor, as of the 2009-2010 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.
The orchestra has recorded commercially for the Col Legno, CPO, Novalis and Ondine labels.
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
. The orchestra performs symphony concerts at the Musiksaal, Basel. The orchestra also serves as the opera orchestra and ballet orchestra for the Theater Basel
Theater Basel
Theater Basel is the municipal theatre of the city of Basel, Switzerland, which is home to the city's opera and ballet companies. The theatre also presents plays and musicals in addition to operas and operettas....
. The orchestra receives funding from the half-cantons of Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft.
The orchestra was formed in 1997 from the merger of two prior ensembles, the Basler Sinfonie-Orchester (Basel Symphony Orchestra) and the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Basel (Radio Symphony Orchestra Basel). Mario Venzago
Mario Venzago
Mario Venzago is a Swiss conductor. His piano studies began at age five. He studied at the conservatory and the university in Zurich...
was the first chief conductor of the newly formed ensemble, from 1997 to 2003. Marko Letonja succeeded Venzago as chief conductor from 2003 to 2006. In March 2008, the orchestra named 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...
its third chief conductor, as of the 2009-2010 season, with an initial contract of 5 years.
The orchestra has recorded commercially for the Col Legno, CPO, Novalis and Ondine labels.
Chief conductors
- 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...
(1997-2003) - Marko Letonja (2003-2006)
- 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...
(2009-present)