American Symphony Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The American Symphony Orchestra is a New York
-based American orchestra founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski
, then aged 80. Following Maestro Stokowski's departure, Kazuyoshi Akiyama
was appointed Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1973-1978. Music Directors during the early 1980s included as principal conductors, Moshe Atzmon
and Giuseppe Patanè
. In 1985, John Mauceri
assumed the post as musical director of American Symphony Orchestra. In 1991, Catherine Comet
left her post at the end of her tenure with the orchestra and was succeeded by Bard College president Leon Botstein
. Its concertmaster is Erica Kiesewetter.
until May 1972 when, at the age of 90, he returned to England
. Leon Botstein
is the current music director and principal conductor. In addition to its main subscription series at Carnegie Hall, the orchestra also performs a lecture/concert series with audience interaction at Symphony space
called Classics Declassified. It is also the resident orchestra of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
at Bard College
, Annandale-on-Hudson, where it performs a winter concert series as well as during the summer Bard Music Festival. The American Symphony Orchestra has toured the world, and made numerous recordings and broadcasts.
Under Botstein's leadership, the ASO has become a pioneer of thematic programming, in which an attempt is made to compose programs having common themes from literature, art, history, or other sources. Botstein has also emphasized the presentation of works not commonly performed by the principal resident of Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, the NY Philharmonic, such as rarely-performed works by major composers and the best works by lesser-known composers.
In addition to presentation, the American Symphony Orchestra seeks to preserve these works from disappearing from the repertoire. While some rare works are available with complete parts and a score in usable condition, others required extensive restoration and even creation to render them performable. No orchestral parts existed for Johann Strauss Sr.’s Four Temperaments Waltz, for example; the ASO’s extensive efforts to create these parts mean that the work is now available for performance by other orchestras.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
-based American orchestra founded in 1962 by Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Stokowski
Leopold Anthony Stokowski was a British-born, naturalised American orchestral conductor, well known for his free-hand performing style that spurned the traditional baton and for obtaining a characteristically sumptuous sound from many of the great orchestras he conducted.In America, Stokowski...
, then aged 80. Following Maestro Stokowski's departure, Kazuyoshi Akiyama
Kazuyoshi Akiyama
is a Japanese conductor.-Biography:Born into a musical family, he studied piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, but was fascinated by the conducting activities of a fellow student, Seiji Ozawa. He decided to study conducting with Hideo Saito...
was appointed Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1973-1978. Music Directors during the early 1980s included as principal conductors, Moshe Atzmon
Moshe Atzmon
Moshe Atzmon is a Hungarian-born Israeli conductor.He was born in Budapest, and at the age of thirteen he emigrated with his family to Tel Aviv, Israel. He started his musical career on the horn before going to London for further studies in conducting....
and Giuseppe Patanè
Giuseppe Patanè
Giuseppe Patanè was an Italian opera conductor.Giuseppe Patané was born in Naples, the son of the conductor Franco Patanè , and studied in his native city. He made his debut there in 1951. He was principal conductor at the Linz opera from 1961–1962...
. In 1985, John Mauceri
John Mauceri
John Francis Mauceri is an American conductor, producer and arranger for theatre, opera and television. For fifteen years, he served on the faculty of Yale University. He was a protege of Leonard Bernstein...
assumed the post as musical director of American Symphony Orchestra. In 1991, Catherine Comet
Catherine Comet
Catherine Comet is a French-born American conductor who was the music director of the Grand Rapids Symphony and the American Symphony Orchestra. She received the Seaver/National Endowment for the Arts Conductors Award in 1988.-External links:*...
left her post at the end of her tenure with the orchestra and was succeeded by Bard College president Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein is an American conductor and the President of Bard College . Botstein is the music director and principal conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra and conductor laureate of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, where he served as music director and principal conductor from 2003-2010...
. Its concertmaster is Erica Kiesewetter.
History
Stokowski served as music director for the orchestra, together with assistant Amos MellerAmos Meller
Amos Meller is best remembered as an Israeli composer and conductor. He was born in Kibbutz Ein HaHoresh and died in Tel Aviv.In his lifetime, he was a member if the Israeli volleyball team, a flutist, a violinist, and a poet....
until May 1972 when, at the age of 90, he returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein is an American conductor and the President of Bard College . Botstein is the music director and principal conductor of the American Symphony Orchestra and conductor laureate of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, where he served as music director and principal conductor from 2003-2010...
is the current music director and principal conductor. In addition to its main subscription series at Carnegie Hall, the orchestra also performs a lecture/concert series with audience interaction at Symphony space
Symphony Space
Symphony Space is a multi-disciplinary performing arts organization at 2537 Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Performances take place in the 760-seat Peter Jay Sharp Theatre or the 160-seat Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater. Programs include music, dance, theater, film, and literary readings...
called Classics Declassified. It is also the resident orchestra of the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts
The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College is a performance hall located in New York's Hudson Valley. The center provides audiences with performances and programs in orchestral, chamber, and jazz music and theater, dance, and opera by American and international artists...
at Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
, Annandale-on-Hudson, where it performs a winter concert series as well as during the summer Bard Music Festival. The American Symphony Orchestra has toured the world, and made numerous recordings and broadcasts.
Under Botstein's leadership, the ASO has become a pioneer of thematic programming, in which an attempt is made to compose programs having common themes from literature, art, history, or other sources. Botstein has also emphasized the presentation of works not commonly performed by the principal resident of Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, the NY Philharmonic, such as rarely-performed works by major composers and the best works by lesser-known composers.
In addition to presentation, the American Symphony Orchestra seeks to preserve these works from disappearing from the repertoire. While some rare works are available with complete parts and a score in usable condition, others required extensive restoration and even creation to render them performable. No orchestral parts existed for Johann Strauss Sr.’s Four Temperaments Waltz, for example; the ASO’s extensive efforts to create these parts mean that the work is now available for performance by other orchestras.