John Nelson (conductor)
Encyclopedia
John Wilton Nelson is an American
conductor
. Nelson studied at Wheaton College, and later at the Juilliard School of Music with Jean Morel .
Nelson was Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
from 1976 to 1987. Nelson made two commercial recordings with the Indianapolis Symphony, of music by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Charles Martin Loeffler
, for the New World Records label. With Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
, he was Music Director from 1985 to 1988, and Principal Conductor from 1988 to 1991. He was also music director of the Caramoor Festival in Katonah
, New York
from 1983 to 1990. In September 1998, Nelson became Music Director of the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. In March 2007, it was announced that he would leave this position with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris at the end of the 2007-2008 season.
He is particularly noted as a great interpreter of large Romantic
works, for his performances of opera
, in particular the operas of Berlioz, as well as of Baroque music
. Nelson regularly conducts in virtually all the major cities throughout the world. In America
he has appeared with the New York Philharmonic
, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
, the Philadelphia Orchestra
, and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco
, Dallas and Cleveland
. In Latin America
he has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra (Costa Rica
) and the National Symphony Choir. In Europe
, with all the London
orchestras, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Gewandhaus
, Orchestre de Paris
, the orchestras of Cologne
, Stuttgart
, Rotterdam
, Oslo
, and Stockholm
.
John Nelson is also known for his interest in choral music and is the Music Director of Soli Deo Gloria an organization that has the goal of encouraging classical sacred music by funding commissions, encouraging performances of masterworks and making possible the performance of classical sacred music in locales where such music is not well known.
Nelson and his wife Anita reside in Paris.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. Nelson studied at Wheaton College, and later at the Juilliard School of Music with Jean Morel .
Nelson was Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra based in Indianapolis, Indiana.Annually, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs 200 concerts for over 350,000 people. It is the largest performing arts organization in Indiana. The ISO is currently one of only 18 American...
from 1976 to 1987. Nelson made two commercial recordings with the Indianapolis Symphony, of music by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and Charles Martin Loeffler
Charles Martin Loeffler
Charles Martin Loeffler was a German-born American violinist and composer.- Birthplace :Throughout his career Loeffler claimed to have been born in Mulhouse, Alsace and almost all music encyclopedias give this fabricated information. In his lifetime articles were published dissecting his...
, for the New World Records label. With Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis is a summer opera festival held in St. Louis, Missouri. Typically four operas, all sung in English, are presented each season, which runs from late May to late June. Performances are accompanied by the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, which is divided into two...
, he was Music Director from 1985 to 1988, and Principal Conductor from 1988 to 1991. He was also music director of the Caramoor Festival in Katonah
Katonah
Katonah may refer to:Given name:* Chief Katonah, a Native American tribal leaderPlace name:* Katonah, New York, a hamlet within the town of Bedford, New YorkOther:* Katonah , a music album by Apollo Sunshine, named after Bedford, New York...
, New York
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...
from 1983 to 1990. In September 1998, Nelson became Music Director of the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. In March 2007, it was announced that he would leave this position with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris at the end of the 2007-2008 season.
He is particularly noted as a great interpreter of large Romantic
Romantic music
Romantic music or music in the Romantic Period is a musicological and artistic term referring to a particular period, theory, compositional practice, and canon in Western music history, from 1810 to 1900....
works, for his performances of opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, in particular the operas of Berlioz, as well as of Baroque music
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
. Nelson regularly conducts in virtually all the major cities throughout the world. In America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
he has appeared with the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, the Philadelphia Orchestra
Philadelphia Orchestra
The Philadelphia Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. One of the "Big Five" American orchestras, it was founded in 1900...
, and the symphony orchestras of Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Francisco
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
, Dallas and Cleveland
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
. In Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
he has appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra (Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
) and the National Symphony Choir. In Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, with all the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
orchestras, Dresden Staatskapelle, Leipzig Gewandhaus
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra is one of the the oldest symphony orchestras in the world...
, Orchestre de Paris
Orchestre de Paris
The Orchestre de Paris is a French orchestra based in Paris. The orchestra performs most of its concerts at the Salle Pleyel.-History:In 1967, following the dissolution of the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire, conductor Charles Munch was called on by the Minister of Culture,...
, the orchestras of Cologne
WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne is a German orchestra based in Cologne. The orchestra was founded in 1947 by Allied occupation authorities after World War II, as the orchestra of Nordwestdeutschen Rundfunk . The orchestra later acquired the names of the Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra and...
, Stuttgart
Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Stuttgart in Germany. The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchestra for Radio Stuttgart, under the name Sinfonieorchester von Radio Stuttgart...
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra
The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Rotterdam. Its primary venue is the concert hall De Doelen. The RPhO is considered one of the Netherlands' two principal orchestras of international standing, second to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam...
, Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and Stockholm
Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra is a Swedish orchestra based in Stockholm.The orchestra was founded in 1902 as the Stockholm Concert Society . The orchestra became a permanent ensemble in 1914. Since 1926, it has been based in the Stockholm Concert Hall...
.
John Nelson is also known for his interest in choral music and is the Music Director of Soli Deo Gloria an organization that has the goal of encouraging classical sacred music by funding commissions, encouraging performances of masterworks and making possible the performance of classical sacred music in locales where such music is not well known.
Nelson and his wife Anita reside in Paris.