Period

:

Romantic

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Orchestral

 

 

Symphony

 

The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, now known as the Minnesota Orchestra, is a world-renowned classical music ensemble based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1903, the orchestra has a rich history of musical excellence and has been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. The Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra was founded by Emil Oberhoffer, a German-born conductor who had previously worked with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Oberhoffer was recruited by a group of Minneapolis businessmen who were interested in establishing a world-class orchestra in their city. The orchestra's first concert was held on November 5, 1903, at the newly-built Auditorium Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. In its early years, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra struggled financially and artistically. However, the orchestra began to gain recognition in the 1920s under the leadership of conductor Henri Verbrugghen. Verbrugghen, a Belgian-born conductor, brought a new level of musical sophistication to the orchestra and helped to establish it as one of the leading orchestras in the United States. One of the highlights of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra's early years was its performance at the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The orchestra was chosen to represent the state of Minnesota at the exposition and performed a series of concerts that were widely praised by critics and audiences alike. In 1931, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra moved into its new home, Orchestra Hall. The hall was designed specifically for the orchestra and featured state-of-the-art acoustics and a seating capacity of over 2,000. The opening concert of Orchestra Hall was conducted by Eugene Ormandy, who would later become the music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra continued to gain recognition for its musical excellence. The orchestra performed regularly on national radio broadcasts and made several recordings for RCA Victor. In 1945, the orchestra was invited to perform at the inaugural concert of the United Nations in San Francisco. In 1951, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra appointed Antal Doráti as its music director. Doráti, a Hungarian-born conductor, brought a new level of energy and excitement to the orchestra. Under his leadership, the orchestra made several recordings for Mercury Records and performed at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland. One of the highlights of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra's history occurred in 1958, when the orchestra embarked on a tour of the Soviet Union. The tour was organized by the United States State Department as part of a cultural exchange program. The orchestra performed in Moscow, Leningrad, and Kiev, and was widely praised by Soviet audiences and critics. In 1968, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra appointed Stanislaw Skrowaczewski as its music director. Skrowaczewski, a Polish-born conductor, was known for his passionate and intense interpretations of classical music. Under his leadership, the orchestra continued to gain recognition for its musical excellence and made several recordings for the Vox and CBS labels. In 1979, the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra changed its name to the Minnesota Orchestra. The name change reflected the orchestra's growing reputation as a statewide cultural institution. In 1986, the Minnesota Orchestra appointed Edo de Waart as its music director.

More....