Trondheim Symphony Orchestra
The Trondheim Symphony Orchestra (Norwegian: Trondheim Symfoniorkester) is a Norwegian orchestra based in Trondheim, Norway. Its principal concert venue is the Olavshallen. The orchestra is organised as a trust and receives public assistance from the Norwegian government, Sør-Trøndelag county and the municipality of Trondheim.
The precursor ensemble of the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra held its first concert 10 December 1909, at the Frimurerlogen ('Masonic Lodge') in Trondheim, with an ensemble of 29 players. Through the 1920s, the orchestra's musical activities were modest, but this changed in the 1930s, with an increase in the availability of better-trained musicians and increased financial subsidies, to allow for increased (though not abundant) pay to the orchestra musicians. During World War II, the Frimurerlogen was renamed the Deutsches Haus, whilst the country was under German occupation, and the orchestra gave concerts in various Trondheim churches. Following World War II, the orchestra returned to the Frimurerlogen as its resident venue and remained there until 1989.
In 1947, the orchestra created its first full-time posts for the musicians, which led to the establishment of the Trondheim Chamber Orchestra. In 1952, the orchestra established the Prinsesse Astrids musikkpris (Princess Astrid's Music Prize) to reward talented young Norwegian musicians, with pianist Kjell Bækkelund as the first winner. This competition continues to this day, held every two years. In 1962, Norwegian Radio (NRK) and the state of Norway formally took over control of the orchestra.
In 1989, the Olavshallen was completed, and the orchestra relocated from Frimurerlogen to the new concert hall that year. The orchestra currently consists of about 85 musicians, and gives around 100 concerts annually. In 2009, the orchestra started to develop a professional opera and musical theatre department.
The orchestra's current chief conductor is Krzysztof Urbanski, who made his first guest-conducting appearance with the orchestra in September 2009 and was named its next chief conductor that same month, effective with the 2010-2011 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[1] Following an extension of his initial contract for another 2 years to 2015, in May 2014, his Trondheim contract was further extended to 2017.[2] He is scheduled to conclude his Trondheim tenure at the close of the 2016-2017 season.[3] The orchestra's current principal guest conductor is Han-na Chang, since the 2013-2014 season. In March 2016, the orchestra announced the appointment of Chang as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2017-2018 season.[3] She is the first female conductor to be named chief conductor of the orchestra.
Artistic leaders and Chief Conductors
- Morten Svendsen (1909–1922)
- S.A. Withammer (1922–1930)
- Håkon Hoem (1930-1946)
- Olav Kielland (1946–1947)
- Arvid Fladmoe (1947–1950)
- Finn Audun Oftedal (1950–1981)
- Jiri Starek (1981–1984)
- Leonid Grin (1985)
- Ole Kristian Ruud (1987–1995)
- Daniel Harding (1997–2000)
- Eivind Aadland (2003–2010)
- Krzysztof Urbanski (2010-present)
References
- ↑ "Ny sjefsdirigent fra 2010". Ballade. 2009-09-17. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
- ↑ Tone Mørkved (2014-05-09). "Urbanski fram til 2017". Adresseavisen. Retrieved 2016-03-19.
- 1 2 "TSOs nye sjefdirigent" (Press release). Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-03-19.