Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
Encyclopedia
The Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire was a symphony orchestra established in Paris
in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini.
Administered by the philharmonic association of the Paris Conservatoire
, the orchestra consisted of professors of the Conservatoire and their pupils. It was formed by François-Antoine Habeneck in pioneering fashion, aiming to present Beethoven's symphonies, but over time it became more conservative in its programming.
Its long existence kept the tradition of playing taught at the Conservatoire prominent in French musical life. The orchestra occupied the center-stage of French
musical life throughout the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. A major tour of the USA took place in 1918, appearing in 52 cities. Later that year it made the first of its many recordings.
In 1967, financial difficulties, along with irregular work for the players and poor pay led to a decision by the French government to form a new orchestra. Following auditions chaired by Charles Munch, 108 musicians were chosen (of whom 50 were from the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra) for the newly created Orchestre de Paris
, which gave its first concert on 14 November 1967 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
.
The chief conductors
of the orchestra were :
No Principal Conductor was appointed during the orchestra's final years 1960-1967.
Premieres given by the orchestra include Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique
, Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1
, and Franck's Symphony
.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini.
Administered by the philharmonic association of the Paris Conservatoire
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
, the orchestra consisted of professors of the Conservatoire and their pupils. It was formed by François-Antoine Habeneck in pioneering fashion, aiming to present Beethoven's symphonies, but over time it became more conservative in its programming.
Its long existence kept the tradition of playing taught at the Conservatoire prominent in French musical life. The orchestra occupied the center-stage of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
musical life throughout the 19th and most of the 20th centuries. A major tour of the USA took place in 1918, appearing in 52 cities. Later that year it made the first of its many recordings.
In 1967, financial difficulties, along with irregular work for the players and poor pay led to a decision by the French government to form a new orchestra. Following auditions chaired by Charles Munch, 108 musicians were chosen (of whom 50 were from the Paris Conservatoire Orchestra) for the newly created 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,...
, which gave its first concert on 14 November 1967 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées is a theatre at 15 avenue Montaigne. Despite its name, the theatre is not on the Champs-Élysées but nearby in another part of the 8th arrondissement of Paris....
.
The chief conductors
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...
of the orchestra were :
- François-Antoine Habeneck 1828-1848
- Narcisse GirardNarcisse GirardNarcisse Girard was a French conductor and composer.Girard was born in Nantes. A pupil of Pierre Baillot , and Anton Reicha at the Conservatoire, after completing his studies there he went to Italy for a year to further his training...
1848-1860 - Théophile TilmantThéophile TilmantThéophile Tilmant, was a French violinist and conductor born on 9 July 1799 in Valenciennes, France and died on 7 or 8 May 1878, Asnières....
1860-1863 - François George-HainlFrançois George-HainlFrançois George-Hainl, born Issoire 16 November 1807, died Paris 2 June 1873 was a French cellist and conductor.His father who worked as both cobbler and amateur fiddler and gave him his first lessons. Hainl progressed so fast on the cello and worked so hard that he was soon able to join the...
1863-1872 - Edouard DeldevezEdouard DeldevezÉdouard Deldevez was a French violinist, conductor, composer, and music teacher. He is also known as Ernest or Ernst Deldevez. The names Edmé or Émile are occasionally substituted for Edouard.-Biography:Édouard Deldevez was born and died in Paris, France. He won many prizes as a violinist...
1872-1885 - Jules GarcinJules GarcinJules Auguste, Garcin [Salomon] was an illustrious French violinist, conductor and composer of the 19th century.He was born in Bourges...
1885-1892 - Paul Taffanel 1892-1901
- Georges MartyGeorges MartyGeorges-Eugène Marty was a French conductor and composer associated with both major opera houses in Paris.-Career:...
1901-1908 - André MessagerAndré MessagerAndré Charles Prosper Messager , was a French composer, organist, pianist, conductor and administrator. His stage compositions included ballets and 30 opéra comiques and operettas, among which Véronique, had lasting success, with Les p'tites Michu and Monsieur Beaucaire also enjoying international...
1908-1919 - Philippe GaubertPhilippe GaubertPhilippe Gaubert was a French musician who was a distinguished performer on the flute, a respected conductor, and a composer, primarily for the flute....
1919-1938 - Charles MünchCharles MünchCharles Munch was an Alsatian symphonic conductor and violinist. Noted for his mastery of the French orchestral repertoire, he is best known as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.-Biography:...
1938-1946 - André CluytensAndré CluytensAndré Cluytens was a Belgian-born French conductor who was active in the concert hall, opera house and recording studio. His repertoire extended from Viennese classics through French composers to 20th century works...
1946-1960.
No Principal Conductor was appointed during the orchestra's final years 1960-1967.
Premieres given by the orchestra include Berlioz's Symphonie fantastique
Symphonie Fantastique
Symphonie Fantastique: Épisode de la vie d'un Artiste...en cinq parties , Op. 14, is a program symphony written by the French composer Hector Berlioz in 1830. It is one of the most important and representative pieces of the early Romantic period, and is still very popular with concert audiences...
, Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1
Cello Concerto No. 1 (Saint-Saëns)
Camille Saint-Saëns composed his Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33 in 1872, when the composer was age 37. He wrote this work for the Belgian cellist, viola de gamba player and instrument maker Auguste Tolbecque. Tolbecque was part of a distinguished family of musicians closely associated...
, and Franck's Symphony
Symphony in D minor (Franck)
The Symphony in D minor is the most famous orchestral work and the only symphony written by the 19th-century Belgian composer César Franck. After two years of work, the symphony was completed 22 August 1888. It was premiered at the Paris Conservatory on 17 February 1889 under the direction of ...
.
External links
- Online version of extracts and appendices to D. Kern Holoman's definitive study The Société des Concerts du Conservatoire 1828-1967 (University of California Press, 2004). Includes the Orchestra's complete discography and program details for all season concerts.