Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (French: Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo) is the main orchestra
in the principality of Monaco
. The orchestra gives concerts primarily in the Auditorium Rainier III, but also performs at the Salle des Princes Grimaldi Forum.
The orchestra was founded in 1856 and gave its first concert on 14 December 1856, with an ensemble of 15 musicians, at the "Maison de jeux" (the future casino). By 1874, the orchestra had increased in size to 70 musicians. In 1953, Prince Rainier III
had ordered the renaming of the ensemble to L'Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo. It acquired its current name in 1980, again through Rainier III.
The orchestra's most recent principal conductor was Yakov Kreizberg
, who was named to the post in October 2007, effective with the 2009-2010 season, for an initial contract of 5 years. He held the post until his death in March 2011.
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
in the principality of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
. The orchestra gives concerts primarily in the Auditorium Rainier III, but also performs at the Salle des Princes Grimaldi Forum.
The orchestra was founded in 1856 and gave its first concert on 14 December 1856, with an ensemble of 15 musicians, at the "Maison de jeux" (the future casino). By 1874, the orchestra had increased in size to 70 musicians. In 1953, Prince Rainier III
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco , styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs of the 20th century.Though he was best known outside of Europe for having married American...
had ordered the renaming of the ensemble to L'Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo. It acquired its current name in 1980, again through Rainier III.
The orchestra's most recent principal conductor was Yakov Kreizberg
Yakov Kreizberg
- In the Soviet Union :Yakov Kreizberg was born in Leningrad. He began studying piano at age 5. He attended the Glinka Choir School, where he began composing at age 13 and studied conducting with Ilya Musin. "Musin had an incredible system" Kreizberg recalled...
, who was named to the post in October 2007, effective with the 2009-2010 season, for an initial contract of 5 years. He held the post until his death in March 2011.
Principal Conductors
- Paul ParayPaul ParayPaul Paray was a French conductor, organist and composer. He is best remembered in the United States for being the resident conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for more than a decade. He married Yolande Falck on 25 August 1944.-Biography:Paray's father, Auguste, was a sculptor and organist...
(1928–1933) - Henri TomasiHenri TomasiHenri Tomasi was a French classical composer and conductor.- The early years :Henri Tomasi was born in Marseille, France, in the working class neighborhood on August 17, 1901. His father Xavier Tomasi and mother Josephine Vincensi were originally from La Casinca, Corsica...
(1946–1947) - Louis FrémauxLouis FrémauxLouis Frémaux is a French conductor.-Life and career:Frémaux comes from an artistic background; his father was a painter, and his wife was a music teacher....
(1956–1965) - Igor MarkevitchIgor MarkevitchIgor Markevitch was a Ukrainian, Italian, and French composer and conductor.- Origin :Igor Markevich was born in Kiev, to an old family of Ukrainian Cossack starshyna ennobled in the 18th century...
(1967–1972) - Lovro von MatačićLovro von MatacicLovro von Matačić was a Croatian conductor and composer.-Biography:Lovro von Matačić was born in Sušak to a family that was granted a noble title in the early 17th century. Growing up, he was always surrounded by music and art: his father had a career as an opera singer, and his mother as an actress...
(1972–1979) - Lawrence FosterLawrence FosterLawrence Foster is an American conductor.He became the conductor of the San Francisco Ballet at the age of 18, and served as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta...
(1980–1990) - Gianluigi GelmettiGianluigi GelmettiGianluigi Gelmetti is an Italian conductor and composer.He studied conducting with Franco Ferrara, Sergiu Celibidache and Hans Swarowsky. He first conducted an orchestra in Siena at age 16....
(1990–1992) - James DePreistJames DePreistJames Anderson DePreist is an American conductor. One of the few African American conductors on the world stage, he is currently the director of conducting and orchestral studies at the Juilliard School and laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony.-Biography:DePreist was born in Philadelphia...
(1994–1998) - Marek JanowskiMarek JanowskiMarek Janowski is a Polish-born conductor.Janowski grew up in Wuppertal, Germany, near Cologne, after his mother traveled there at the start of World War II to be with her parents...
(2000–2006) - Yakov KreizbergYakov Kreizberg- In the Soviet Union :Yakov Kreizberg was born in Leningrad. He began studying piano at age 5. He attended the Glinka Choir School, where he began composing at age 13 and studied conducting with Ilya Musin. "Musin had an incredible system" Kreizberg recalled...
(2009-2011)