Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

History

Established in 1765 under the name Det Musicalske Selskab (The Musical Society), Norway's Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen. It later changed its name to Musikselkabet Harmonien and it is often referred to as "Harmonien" (the Harmony) by Bergen's citizens.

Related Topics:
1765 - Norway - Orchestra - Grieg Hall - Bergen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After World War I there was strong interest the major Norwegian cities of Bergen and Christiania (which later changed its name to Oslo) in having larger orchestras, and in 1919 the orchestra in Bergen was reorganized to employed 40 professional full-time musicians. As of 2005 the orchestra has 95 musicians.

Related Topics:
World War I - Christiania - Oslo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The orchestra has had a long tradition of playing contemporary music. Ludwig Van Beethoven's second symphony was performed in Bergen in the year it was published - even before it was performed in Berlin. Bergen-born composer Edvard Grieg had close ties with the orchestra, and was artistic director from 1880 to 1882. He also bequeathed a portion of his estate to a fund which continues to help support the orchestra financially. Other composers have served as principal conductor of the orchestra, including Johan Halvorsen, Ivar Holter and Olav Kielland. Composer Harald Sæverud was frequently invited to conduct his own works, and the orchestra continues to commission and perform new compositions on a regular basis. Other composers who have conducted their own works with the orchestra include Aaron Copland, Karl Nielsen, Jean Sibelius, Witold Lutoslawski, Lukas Foss, and Krzysztof Penderecki. In 1953 the Festspillene i Bergen was started and Leopold Stokowski was contracted to conduct the orchestra. Other conductors at the Bergen Festival have included Eugene Ormandy and Sir Thomas Beecham.

Related Topics:
Ludwig Van Beethoven - Berlin - Composer - Edvard Grieg - Johan Halvorsen - Ivar Holter - Olav Kielland - Harald Sæverud - Aaron Copland - Karl Nielsen - Jean Sibelius - Witold Lutoslawski - Lukas Foss - Krzysztof Penderecki - Leopold Stokowski - Eugene Ormandy - Sir Thomas Beecham

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

American conductor Andrew Litton became principal conductor in 2003 and artistic director in 2005. In 2002 the orchestra began, as the first Norwegian orchestra ever, recording the complete orchestral works of Edvard Grieg, its former music director. Norwegian conductor Ole Kristian Ruud and the orchestra will produce the 7 CDs for BIS., scheduled to be completed in 2005. Also in 2005, Andrew Litton and the orchestra recorded music from Prokofiev's ballet Romeo and Juliet for BIS. This was Litton's first recording with the orchestra.

Related Topics:
American - Conductor - Andrew Litton - Ole Kristian Ruud - BIS - Prokofiev - Ballet - Romeo and Juliet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many members of the orchestra teach at the Grieg Academy of Music, which is a music conservatory within the University of Bergen.

Related Topics:
Grieg Academy of Music - University of Bergen

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~