Tonkünstler Orchestra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich | |
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| Background information | |
| Origin |  Vienna, Austria |
| Genre(s) | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Symphony orchestra |
| Years active | 1933-present |
| Website | www.tonkunstler.at |
| Members | |
| Principal conductor Kristjan Järvi Principal Guest Conductor Michael Jurowski |
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The Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich is an Austrian orchestra based in Vienna and St. Pölten, Lower Austria.
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[edit] Origin of the Name
The orchestra's name has its origins in the Tonkünstler-Sozietät, Wien, which was organizing concerts in the era of Haydn and Mozart. This name lived on in the Viennese "Tonkünstler Orchestra Association", which was founded at the beginning of the 20th century. The first concert was performed in 1907 at the Musikverein presenting works of Karl Goldmark, Edvard Grieg, Franz Liszt and Ludwig van Beethoven. In 1913 the Viennese Tonkünstler Orchestra were the first to perform Arnold Schönberg's "Gurrelieder". The Sunday afternoon performances of the orchestra were very popular with the Viennese audience. During World War I, the orchestra had to merge with the so called "Vienna Concertverein" due to financial hardships. The association continued to organise concerts until 1933.
[edit] History
In the mid-1930s a new orchestra was founded by the nationalsocialistic conductor Leopold Reichwein. This new orchestra took the name N.S. Wiener Tonkünstlerorchester after Austria was invaded by Germany in 1938. The orchestra then became the Gausymphonieorchester Niederdonau in 1939. It was doing concerts throughout World War II, mostly with the Kraft durch Freude and in supporting the Wehrmacht. The orchestra renamed itself in 1945 to Landessymphonieorchester Niederösterreich. In 1946 this ensemble tied to the Tonkünstler tradition and called itself Niederösterreichisches Tonkünstlerorchester (Lower Austrian Tonkünstler Orchestra). The tradition of Sunday afternoon concerts was also revived. In 2002 the orchestra underwent a re-structuring process and is now called Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich (Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria).
In its history, several famous guest conductors led the orchestra, among them Clemens Krauss, Paul Hindemith, Arvid and Mariss Jansons, Zubin Mehta, Christoph von Dohnányi, HK Gruber and Jeffrey Tate. Also, many famous soloists have performed with the orchestra, such as Arthur Grumiaux, Leonid Kogan, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Mstislaw Rostropowitsch, Isabelle van Keulen, Heinrich Schiff, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder, Grigorij Sokolow, Edita Gruberova, Agnes Baltsa, Christa Ludwig, Renée Fleming and Bryn Terfel.
Since 2004, Kristjan Järvi is principal conductor of the orchestra, and his contract runs through the 2008-2009 season.[1] With the 2009-2010 season, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, the orchestra's assistant conductor for two years, is scheduled to take up the post of principal conductor.
[edit] Residencies
Tonkünstler Orchestra has its residencies in Vienna and Lower Austria. In Vienna, they perform concerts in the Golden Hall of the Musikverein. The Musikverein "Glass Hall" serves as the orchestra's rehearsal room. As the state orchestra of Lower Austria, Tonkünstler have a second residency in Festspielhaus St. Pölten. From summer 2007, the orchestra is also "orchestra in residence" at the new international Grafenegg Music Festival.
[edit] Principal conductors
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[edit] Repertoire and Profile
The classical composers Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven as well as the romantic epoch ranging from Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms to Anton Bruckner and Gustav Mahler are an important basis of the orchestra's repertoire. Today, the orchestra is also known for its performances of 20th performance and contemporary composers.
Tonkünstler was the first Austrian orchestra with a division focussed solely on music education.
[edit] References
- ^ Ben Mattison. "Kristjan Järvi Extends Contract With Austria's Tonkünstler Orchestra", Playbill Arts, 20 December 2005. Retrieved on 2008-04-22.
[edit] External links
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