Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (Swedish: Kungliga Filharmonikerna or Kungliga Filharmoniska Orkestern, literal translations, "Royal Philharmonic" or "Royal Philharmonic Orchestra"[1]) is a Swedish orchestra based in Stockholm.
The orchestra was founded in 1902 as the Stockholm Concert Society (Stockholms Konsertföreningens orkester). The orchestra became a permanent ensemble in 1914. Since 1926, it has been based in the Stockholm Concert Hall (Konserthuset). Starting in 1937, Radiotjänst (now Swedish Radio) utilized the orchestra as its main broadcast orchestra, in lieu of having its own in-house orchestra.[2] In 1957, it was renamed the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (Stockholms Filharmoniska Orkester). In 1992 it acquired its present name, with patronage from the Swedish royal family.[3]
Georg Schnéevoigt was the first principal conductor of the orchestra, from 1915 to 1924. The orchestra's current principal conductor is Sakari Oramo, since 2008, with an initial contract of 3 years.[4] In 2011, Oramo's contract with the orchestra was extended through 2015. In April 2016, the orchestra announced a further extension of Oramo's contract through 2020.[5]
The orchestra participates annually in the Nobel Prize ceremonies and the Polar Prize for music celebrations. The organization also organizes two annual festivals at its home, the Stockholm Concert Hall, namely the Stockholm International Composer Festival (2007: Tan Dun) and Composer Weekend in May, focusing on a contemporary Swedish composer.
Principal conductors
- Georg Schnéevoigt (1915–1924)
- Václav Talich (1926–1936)
- Fritz Busch (1937–1940)
- Carl Garaguly (1942–1953)
- Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (1955–1964)
- Antal Doráti (1966–1974)
- Gennadi Rozhdestvensky (1974–1977)
- Yuri Ahronovitch (1982–1987)
- Paavo Berglund (1987–1990)
- Gennadi Rozhdestvensky (1991–1995)
- Andrew Davis and Paavo Järvi (1995–1998)
- Alan Gilbert (2000–2008)
- Sakari Oramo (2008–present)
References
- ↑ In Swedish, "Stockholm" is not included in the orchestra's title. The English version of the orchestra's name includes "Stockholm" to distinguish this orchestra from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London.
- ↑ Potts, Joseph E., "European Radio Orchestras. II" (October 1955). The Musical Times, 96 (1352): pp. 525-527.
- ↑ Daniel J. Wakin (7 October 2007). "Forged in Sweden, Bound for New York". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-28.
- ↑ Vivien Schweitzer (31 March 2006). "Sakari Oramo to Succeed Alan Gilbert at Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ↑ "Några höjdpunkter 2016–17" (Press release). Konserthuset Stockholm. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-18.