| Toronto Symphony Orchestra | |
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Victor Feldbrill conducting the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Ontario Place in 1975. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | New Symphony Orchestra |
| Also known as | TSO |
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Classical |
| Occupations | Symphony Orchestra |
| Years active | 1922–present |
| Associated acts | Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra |
| Website | www.tso.ca |
| Members | |
| Music Director Peter Oundjian Chair of Board of Directors Ana Lopes |
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The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.
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The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO continued to give regular concerts at Massey Hall from 1923 to 1982. Currently, TSO performances are held in Roy Thomson Hall.
Andrew Davis was the TSO's music director from 1975 to 1988, and is currently the orchestra's conductor laureate. The current TSO music director is Peter Oundjian, who was appointed to the post in January 2003 and formally became music director with the 2004-2005 season. In February 2007, Oundjian extended his contract with the TSO to 2012.[1]
The orchestra had financial and audience size problems before the appointment of Oundjian as its music director. In 1992, TSO musicians had accepted a 16% pay cut because of a threat of bankruptcy to the orchestra, with a promise from management to make up the loss in subsequent contract negotiations. By 1999, this pay restoration did not happen, which led to an 11-week musicians' strike that autumn.[2] Relations between the musicians and management had deteriorated to the point where music director Jukka-Pekka Saraste had offered to serve as mediator in the situation. In addition, there was a lack of public sympathy to the orchestra musicians' situation.[3]
By 2001, the orchestra had debt of $7 million (Canadian), and both its executive director, Ed Smith, and Saraste had left the ensemble.[4] Subscribers numbered around 20,000 as of the 2000-2001 season, and audience average capacity was 56% in 2001. By the 2006-2007 season, the subscriber base had increased to about 25,000, and the audience average capacity also increased to 84%.[5] In November 2008, the orchestra reported its third consecutive year of budget surpluses, with average audience attendance of 88% (excluding concerts for schoolchildren), although the orchestra still retains overall debt of $8.9 million (Canadian).[6]
Concerts of the orchestra are broadcast over CBC Radio 2. The 2005 documentary film Five Days in September: The Rebirth of an Orchestra (Canada, 2005) recorded the first days of the TSO's inaugural season with Oundjian as its new music director.
The TSO is governed by a board of 25 directors, led by Ana Lopes, Robert W. Corcoran, and Allan S. Kimberley.[7]
TSoundcheck is designed to connect young people to classical music. Based on reduced fares on selected concerts and seating ($14 flat rate), it targets 15 to 35 year olds. It does not require the buyer to be a student with only the age range as the governing factor. Tickets become available about a week before a performance and the amount of availability is dependant on ticket sales and the symphony's discretion.
The Adopt-a-player program is aimed at elementary schools in the GTA and surrounding area. Selected musicians from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra are "adopted" by schools. Each musician collaborates with a Grade 4 or 5 class for one day a week for six weeks to teach the elements of music and aid in the creation of a new piece of music. At the end of the programme, each class presents their composition to other programme participants, as well as family and friends at a Showcase Event. Students also have the opportunity to attend a TSO rehearsal and an evening, weekend or student concert.
Members of the symphony are available to lead masterclasses for high school bands and orchestras. The members collaborate with existing music programs, focusing on specific needs such as solo and orchestral performance, technique or work on specific repertoire.
In an effort to bring classical music to children between the ages of 5 and 12, the TSO organize a series of five one-hour concerts on Saturday afternoons. Concerts are held at the Roy Thomson Hall and may feature guest artists.
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The post of concertmaster vacated by Jacques Israelievitch in 2008 was filled in 2011 by Canadian violinist Jonathan Crow.
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