Minnesota Orchestra

The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra. Until 1968 it was known as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Another orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, is also based in the Twin Cities.

Related Topics:
American - Orchestra - St. Paul Chamber Orchestra - Twin Cities

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The Orchestra performs at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as well as widely touring.

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The orchestra was founded under its old name in 1903 by Emil Oberhoffer and gave its first concert on November 5 of that year. Oberhoffer was also its principal conductor until 1922. He has been followed by Henry Verbrugghen (1923-31); Eugene Ormandy (1931-36); Dimitri Mitropoulos (1937-49); Antal Doráti (1949-60); Stanisław Skrowaczewski (1960-80) and Neville Marriner (1979-86); Edo de Waart (1986-95); and Eiji Oue (1995-2002). In 2002, Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä was appointed the ensemble's 10th music director and took the podium in September 2003. In 2005, Vänskä extended his tenure with the Minnesota Orchestra through 2011.

Related Topics:
Emil Oberhoffer - Conductor - Henry Verbrugghen - Eugene Ormandy - Dimitri Mitropoulos - Antal Doráti - Stanisław Skrowaczewski - Neville Marriner - Edo de Waart - Eiji Oue - Osmo Vänskä

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In 1954, the group made the first recording of the 1812 Overture to include actual cannon fire. The first recording was in monophonic sound, so the performance was repeated in 1958 for a stereo production.

Related Topics:
1954 - 1812 Overture - Cannon - Monophonic - 1958 - Stereo

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In 1980, the Minnesota Orchestra began two traditions which have since caught on with other ensembles nationwide and worldwide: First, the Conductor began to give a pre-Orchestra presentation on the works to be presented and their composer, and second, it began a pre-season concert series, called Sommerfest (originally Viennese Sommerfest), which runs from mid-July to mid-August, before the concert season officially begins in September.

Related Topics:
1980 - Sommerfest - Viennese - July - August - September

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