Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra |
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (in German: Wiener Philharmoniker) is the best known
orchestra in Austria and one of
Europe's major ensembles. Its home base is the world-famous Musikverein. The members of the orchestra are chosen from the
Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera.
Although the orchestra is widely acknowledged as one of the world's finest, it has come in for some criticism because until
recently it has not allowed women to play in it. Some people associated with the organization have also been criticised for
saying that it is important to maintain the ethnic uniformity of the orchestra (that is, white Europeans) in order to maintain
high playing standards. The violinist Fritz Kreisler was turned down
when he applied for a chair in the string section, and though Gustav Mahler converted from Judaism the year before he was appointed conductor, he only held the post for four seasons.
History
The orchestra can trace its origins back to 1842, when Otto Nicolai formed what he called a "Philharmonic Academy"; it was an orchestra which was fully
independent, and which took all its decisions by a democratic vote of all its members. These are principles the orchestra still
holds today.
When Nicolai left Vienna in 1847, the orchestra almost folded, and it was not very active until 1860, when Carl Eckert joined
as conductor. He gave a series of four subscription concerts, and since then, the orchestra has given concerts continuously.
The orchestra has attracted some very famous and acclaimed conductors. From 1875 to 1882 Hans Richter was principal conductor, and the orchestra gave the premieres of Brahms' second and third symphonies. Gustav
Mahler held the post from 1898 to 1901, and under him the orchestra played abroad for the first time (in Paris). Subsequent conductors were Felix von Weingartner
(1908-27), Wilhelm Furtwängler (1927-30) and Clemens Krauss (1930-33).
From 1933, the orchestra has had no one principal conductor, but instead has a number of guest conductors. These have included
almost a great number of the world's best known conductors, including Richard Strauss, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, Georg Solti, Leonard Bernstein, and Claudio Abbado.
Since 1941, the orchestra gives a concert on New Year's Day dedicated to the
music of the Strauss family, and especially Johann Strauss II,
the Vienna New Year's Concert.
Conductors
Principal Conductors
- Otto Nicolai (1842-1848)
- Carl Eckert (1854-1857)
- Otto Dessoff (1860-1875)
- Wilhelm Jahn (1882-1883)
- Hans Richter (1875-1883)
- Gustav Mahler (1898-1901), who conducted it abroad for the first time
at the World's fair 1900 at Paris
- Joseph
Hellmesberger (1901-1903)
- Felix von
Weingartner (1908-1927)
- Wilhelm Furtwängler (1927-1930)
- Clemens Krauss
(1929-1933)
Guest Conductors
Selection of recordings
- Mozart, Symphonies No 38, 39, 40, 41
conducted by Karl Böhm ;
- Mozart, The Marriage of Figaro conducted
by Erich Kleiber ;
- Mozart, Don Giovanni conducted by
Josef Krips ;
- Beethoven, Symphony No 3 conducted by Felix von Weingartner
;
- Beethoven, Symphony No 3 conducted by Erich Kleiber ;
- Beethoven, Symphony No 5, Symphony No
7 conducted by Carlos Kleiber ;
- Beethoven, Symphony No 2, Symphony No
5, Symphony No 9 conducted by Simon Rattle ;
- Schubert , Symphony No 8 conducted by Carl Schuricht ;
- Schubert, Symphony No 9 conducted by Josef Krips ;
- Wagner, The Valkyrie, first act, conducted by Bruno Walter
- Bruckner, Symphony No 4 conducted by Karl Böhm ;
- Malher, The Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der
Erde) with Kathleen Ferrier (contralto), conducted by Bruno Walter ;
- Mahler, Symphony No 3 conducted by Pierre Boulez ;
- Johann Strauss II and Strauss family, works recorded at the
traditional New Year's Day concert conducted by Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado, Carlos Kleiber, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Riccardo Muti etc.
External links
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