| Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | DPO |
| Origin | Dublin, Ireland, |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupations | Symphony Orchestra |
| Years active | 1700's-present with a gap between 1937 and 1997 |
| Website | [1] |
| Members | |
| Music Director & Conductor Derek Gleeson |
|
The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is an orchestra based in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 1997 and operates under the auspices of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra Association, a corporation limited by guarantee [1] and Irish charity,[2] The former Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra was active from the 1700s to the 1930s. The famous Violinist,Conductor and Impresario Pierre Van Maldere conducting from 1751.[3][4] The present Music Director & Conductor is Derek Gleeson.[5]
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The new Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra gave its premier concert during the 1997 Kilkenny Arts Festival at the 13th century Norman cathedral, "St. Canices", in the ancient city of Kilkenny.[6] In addition to performing a repertoire of standard classical masterworks, the orchestra gives a voice to Ireland's contemporary composers.[7][8][9] The orchestra has recorded classical and contemporary repertoire for commercial record companies, including Albany Records (U.S.A.), BMG/Windham Hill Records,[10][11] and in 2006 was featured on the Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland's "Contemporary Music from Ireland, Volume Six" CD in a recording of Baginbun 1170 by the composer Vincent Kennedy.[7][12] Additionally, the orchestra has recorded film scores for motion pictures and television.[13]
In 2008, the DPO performed at "The World Fleadh", Ireland's largest celtic music festival with Frankie Gavin & De Dannan, Moya Brennan, Brian Kennedy and Anthony Kearns of the Three Irish Tenors.[14]
In 2009, it undertook its inaugural tour of the United States of America with 49-concert dates across 24 states, under the auspices of Columbia Artists Management Inc.,[15][16][17] In 2010 it toured China,[18] performing at the official Shanghai Grand Theatre World Expo 2010 program.[19][20] It also opened the Beijing Summer Festival, Roam about the Classics,[21] with concerts broadcast from the National Centre for the Performing Arts at the Opera House,(NCPA) Beijing, on TV, Radio and the Internet to over 400 million people.[22][23]
The Hong Kong based, Phoenix Television Station, made a documentary about the Orchestra's China Tour of 2010.
In 2010, the DPO teamed up with Samuel L. Jackson, the Samuel Jackson Foundation and Dionne Warwick in presenting a gala fundraising event for Irish Autism Action at the O'Reilly Hall at University College Dublin.[24]
In 2012/2013/2014, the DPO will tour both North and South America, as well as performing at major European music festivals.
The DPO is an International Orchestra drawing its orchestral players from throughout Ireland and the other 26 member states of the European Union and beyond. The musicians pursue parallel careers as international soloists, members of eminent chamber groups, and as tutors and professors of music. Its Founder, Music Director and Conductor is Derek Gleeson.[25][26][27]
In May 2011, a New York Times article reported that the ensemble touring the United States under the name of the "Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra" comprised only two Irish players and was largely Bulgarian, inconsistent with the roster Columbia Artists Management Inc. submitted before the tour to the American Federation of Musicians.[28][29] The Sunday Times in the May 29th 2011 Irish edition acknowledged that it was "Badly out of tune with truth of orchestra tour" and published a letter from Music Director & Conductor Derek Gleeson addressing the inaccuracies and errors of omission in its article regarding the personnel composition of the 2009 Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra tour.[30] DPO arrangements were recorded in Bulgaria with composer Michael Fleming.[31] Music director Derek Gleeson has acknowledged that despite the orchestra's name, it has played only a half-dozen or so concerts in Ireland since its founding in 1997.[28] The Columbia Artists Management defended the orchestra saying that international players were normal in orchestras.[28]
The Ireland U.S. Council, as a sponsor of the 2009 tour issued a press release addressing the composition and membership of the tour.[16]
Chamber music instrumentalists of the Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra also perform as the "Irish Chamber Ensemble" under DPO's associate conductor Malcolm Yuen.[32] Irish Conductor Colman Pearce [33][34] is the orchestra's principal guest conductor.
The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra's YouTube Channel receives approx 5,000 hits per day at a present total of 4,700,000 [35]