MDR Symphony Orchestra
The MDR Symphony Orchestra (Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, also known as the Leipzig MDR Symphony Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester in German) is one of the oldest Radio orchestras in the world and the oldest in Germany. It was founded in Leipzig, Germany in 1923 and therefore 9 months earlier than the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Apart from a short interval during World War II, it has been the main orchestra of the Central German Broadcasting Company (MDR) since 1924.[1][2] Chief conductors include Hermann Abendroth (1949–1956) and Herbert Kegel (1953–1977) and Fabio Luisi (1999–2007).
The orchestra was among the few to have played for the Pope in 2003.
History
The orchestra was founded as "Orchester des Konzertvereins" ("Orchestra of the Concert Society"). It became the "Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Leipzig" ("Radio Symphony Orchestra Leipzig") in 1924 and later adopted its present name.[3] The Orchestra was dissolved during World War II and reunited in 1946 under the tenure of the conductor Hermann Abendroth, later conducted by Herbert Kegel. At the end of the 1970s the principal conductors were Wolf-Dieter Hauschild and later by Max Pommer.
In 1992 the Rundfunk Symphony Orchestra merged with the Radio Philharmonic in Leipzig to form the MDR Symphony Orchestra.[1]
Ensembles
Chamber music ensembles of the MDR Symphony Orchestra
- Arcato Streichquartett (since 1999)
- Döring-Bläserquintett (since 1982)
- Kammersymphonie Leipzig (since 2006)
- Leipziger Hornquartett (since 1996)
- Leipziger Schlagzeugensemble (since 1983)
- Leipziger Blechbläsersolisten (since 1992)
- MDR Bläserquintett (since 1995)
Other ensembles
Principal conductors
World premieres
This is a list of famous world premieres for the orchestra:[5]
- Franz Schreker: “Vom ewigen Leben” for soprano and orchestra (1929)
- Kurt Weill: “Der Silbersee” (1933)
- Fritz Geißler: Chamber Symphony (1955)
- Rudolf Wagner-Régeny: Genesis, Cantata for alto, chorus & orchestra (1956)
- Alan Bush: Symphony No. 3 “The Byron Symphony” with Baritone Solo and Mixed Chorus (1962)
- Günter Kochan: Symphony No. 1 (1963)
- Paul Dessau: Requiem for Lumumba (1964)
- Paul Dessau: “Deutsches Miserere” for mixed choir, children's choir, soprano, alto, tenor and bass soloists, large orchestra, organ and trautonium (1966)
- Wilhelm Neef: Piano Concerto (1971)
- Udo Zimmermann: L'Homme (1972)
- Edison Denisov: Cello Concerto (1973)
- Friedrich Schenker: Electrization (1975)
- Siegfried Thiele: Jeux pour harpe et orchestre (1975)
- Edison Denissow: Piano Concerto (1978)
- Georg Katzer: Piano Concerto (1980)
- Friedrich Schenker: Fanal Spanien 1936 (1981)
- Luca Lombardi: Symphony No. 2 (1983)
- Wilfried Krätzschmar: Heine Scenes (1983)
- Paul-Heinz Dittrich: “Etym” for orchestra (1984)
- Friedrich Goldmann: Symphony No. 3 (1987)
- Karl Ottomar Treibmann: Symphony No. 4 (1989)
- Paul-Heinz Dittrich/Sofia Gubaidulina/Marek Kopelent: Laudatio Pacis (1993)
- Krzysztof Penderecki: Concerto per violino ed orchestra No. 2 (1995)
- Carlos Veerhoff: Symphony No. 6 “Desiderata”, for 3 soloists, speaker, chorus & orchestra, Op. 70 (1997)
- Milko Kelemen: Salut au monde (1999)
- Friedrich Schenker: Goldberg Passion (1999)
- Wolfgang Rihm: Penthesilea-Monolog for Soprano and orchestra (2005)
- Jean-Luc Darbellay: Requiem for Soloists, Choir and Orchestra (2005)
References
Sources
- Jörg Clemen; Steffen Lieberwirth: Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk. Die Geschichte des Sinfonieorchesters. Verlag Klaus-Jürgen Kamprad, Altenburg 1999, ISBN 3-930550-09-1
External links