About
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canada's foremost symphonic ensemble, will celebrate its 84th season in 2005|2006. More than 400,000 patrons visit the Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall each year, and an additional five million Canadians tune in to frequent concert broadcasts on CBC Radio. At the same time, the Orchestra maintains a strong international presence, built by a history of touring, including its triumphant European tour in the spring of 2000, and reinforced by acclaimed recordings available in music stores around the world.
The Orchestra was founded in 1922 by a group of Toronto musicians and Viennese-born conductor Luigi von Kunits. The New Symphony Orchestra, as it was then called, gave its first performance in April 1923 at Massey Hall. The name Toronto Symphony Orchestra was adopted four years later.
Von Kunits served as Music Director until his death in 1931. Sir Ernest MacMillan, appointed that year, would become the Orchestra's longest-standing Music Director, presiding from 1931 until 1956. During MacMillan's 25 seasons on the podium, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra soared in stature and scope, introducing Toronto audiences to then-contemporary composers such as Holst, Sibelius, and Stravinsky, who conducted the Orchestra in performances of his own music in 1937.
Walter Susskind followed MacMillan, and was succeeded in 1965 by Seiji Ozawa, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's youngest artistic leader. Ozawa served for four years, until the arrival of Karel Ancerl in 1969. In 1973, Victor Feldbrill took over the post of Resident Conductor until 1978. Sir Andrew Davis, now Conductor Laureate, served as Music Director from 1975 to 1988; and Gunther Herbig, a conductor noted for his interpretations of the music of Brahms, and his controlled, disciplined style of direction, served from 1989 to 1994.
The Orchestra moved from Massey Hall to Roy Thomson Hall in 1982. During the 2001/2002 season, Roy Thomson Hall underwent a highly successful sound makeover; the Roy Thomson Hall Acoustic Enhancement Project resulted in dramatically improved acoustics, unanimously lauded by critics. The Toronto Symphony returned to Roy Thomson Hall for a special Re-Opening Gala on September 21, 2002 to great success.
Jukka-Pekka Saraste's tenure with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, from 1994 to 2001, has been distinguished by tremendous response from critics, audiences, and the Orchestra musicians. His performances with the Orchestra have been noted for their exceptional standard of artistic collaboration and ensemble playing, both at home in Roy Thomson Hall and abroad. During their highly acclaimed European tour, the TSO was praised by the Stuttgarter Nachrichten as a "symphonic powerhouse," which "responded with great dynamic and colourful gradation to Saraste's far-reaching but constantly clear stroke."
Conductor Laureate Sir Andrew Davis served as Artistic Advisor and oversaw the planning of the 2001/2002 and 2003/2004 seasons. On January 16, 2003, the TSO announced the appointment of Peter Oundjian to serve as the next Music Director. A dynamic presence in the orchestral world, Peter Oundjian continues to make his mark as one of today's most exciting faces on the conducting scene. His probing musicality, spirit of collaboration, and engaging personality have earned him accolades and frequent re-engagements. Stunning performances, cheering audiences, and instant rapport with both musicians and audiences prompted his selection as Music Director of the Toronto Symphony. His first season, 2004/2005, opened with Rene Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax as soloists in his inaugural week as documented in the soon to be released film, “Five Days in September” by Rhombus Media. Earlier appointments include Artistic Director of the Caramoor International Music Festival (NY), Music Director of the Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam and Principal Guest Conductor of the Colorado Symphony.
Throughout its history, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra has welcomed some of the greatest international artists, including Martha Argerich, Maxim Vengerov, Yo-Yo Ma, Evgeny Kissin, Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, Karen Kain, and actor Christopher Plummer. Renowned composers Henri Dutilleux, R. Murray Schafer, and the late Sir Michael Tippett, among many others, have been in attendance for the Orchestra's presentations of their music.
International tours have taken the Toronto Symphony Orchestra to such hallowed destinations as the Musikverein in Vienna, New York's Carnegie Hall, and other prestigious venues throughout the USA, Japan, Australia, Europe and the Canadian North. The Orchestra's acclaimed discography on the Finlandia Records label includes Juno-nominated recordings of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition; Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 4 with soloist Alexei Lubimov; Bartók's Dance Suite; and music by Henri Dutilleux, including the Symphony No. 2. The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's recording of Sibelius' Lemminkäinen Suite won a Juno Award in 2001 in the Best Classical Album: Large Ensemble category. |
