Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra
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Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester in German and GMJO for short)is a youth orchestra, which was founded in Austria by Claudio Abbado.
In 1986 founded Abbado the orchestra, its members were young talent instrucmentists from Austria. The orchestra offered also the young musicians from then socialist countries, like Hungary and Czechslovakia, the access. So it was the first youth orchestra to hold open auditions in the former Eastern Bloc. Since 1992 a jury authorized by Claudio Abbado makes its selection from the many candidates at auditions held in more than twenty-five European cities each year. Now there are more than 100 musicians in the orchestra and they come from Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Russia, Spain, Great Britain, Romania and Switzerland. The members of the jury are prominent orchestral players who continue to assist the orchestra with its musical program during the rehearsal period.
The orchestra has a huge structure. More than 130 musicians went on their easter trip in 2005. This size is also able to play Richard Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie in its full size.
The GMJO tour repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary music with the emphasis on the great symphonic works of the romantic and late romantic periods. Its high artistic level and international success have prompted many leading conductors and soloists to perform with the GMJO. Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester has marked in 2005 their Easter Tour and received a warm welcome. During the tour a recording was produced- Richard Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie, under the conduction of Franz Welser-Möst. The orchestra gives its perform also in the Lucerne Festival, the Salzburg Festival and the Salzburg Easter Festival. Many former members of the GMJO are now members of the leading European orchestras, some of them in principal positions.
Many conductors have cooperated with Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester, such as Claudio Abbado, Mariss Jansons, Pierre Boulez and Bernard Haitink.
[edit] Recordings
- Richard Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, EMI 2005.
- Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 (Bruckner), conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, EMI 2002.
