National Symphony Orchestra (Dominican Republic)
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| National Symphony Orchestra (Dominican Republic) | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional (OSN) |
| Born | 1941 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |
| Genre(s) | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Symphony Orchestra |
| Website | http://www.sinfonia.org.do |
| Members | |
| Music Director Carlos Piantini |
|
| Former members | |
| Music Director Enrique Casal Chapí Music Director Manuel Simó |
|
The National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic (Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional) is the leading classical orchestra of the Dominican Republic; it was founded in 1941.
Contents |
[edit] Antecedents
In November 1904 the Octet of the House of Youth (Octeto del Casino de la Juventud) was established under the direction of José de Jesús Ravelo. The octet converted itself a few months later into a small orchestra, but kept its original name.
In June 1932, the octet renamed itself the Concert Society (Sociedad de Conciertos), under the patronage of the Dominican Atheneum (Ateneo Dominicano). The Symphonic Orchestra of Santo Domingo (Orquesta Sinfónica de Santo Domingo) was set up in the same year.
[edit] History of the National Symphony Orchestra
In 1941, partly due to the influence of the exiled Spanish musician Enrique Casal Chapí, the Symphonic Orchestra of Santo Domingo became the National Symphony Orchestra. Casal became its first music director. The orchestra was enlarged by including in it musicians from the Concert Society, the Musical Band of the Army of the Dominican Republic (Banda de Música del Ejército), and the Municipal Band of Santo Domingo (Banda Municipal). At its formation the National Symphony Orchestra was chiefly composed of a number of professors from the Dominican Republic, plus three Spaniards. Since then it has had members from all sorts of nationalities.
In 1986, the National Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Inc., (Fundación Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional, "Sinfonía") was established to provide private sector support for the orchestra, which remains a state institution under the Ministry of Culture of the Dominican Republic.
Since 1997, the orchestra has participated in the Santo Domingo Music Festival, which is held every two years, in the month of March.
[edit] Location
The orchestra performs at the Teatro Nacional in Santo Domingo.
[edit] Music Directors
- Enrique Casal Chapí (1941-45)
- Abel Eisenberg (1946-51)
- Roberto Caggiano (1951-59)
- Manuel Simó (1959-80)
- Jacinto Gimbernard (1980-84)
- Carlos Piantini (1985-94)
- Rafael Villanueva (1994-95)
- Julio de Windt (1996-2000)
- Alvaro Manzano (2001-4)
- Carlos Piantini (2000-6)
- Philippe Entremont (2007)
[edit] External links
- Website of the orchestra, with outline of its history (in Spanish)[1]
