Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona
Encyclopedia
The Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Barcelona, Spain.
, founded in 1847 and devoted to opera and ballet, Barcelona has had several symphonic orchestras since 1888. From 1910 to 1924, a private-based Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona gave its concerts in the Teatre Eldorado, led by Joan Lamote de Grignon
. After it, the city's principal orchestra was the Orquestra Pau Casals (1920-1936), conducted by Pablo Casals
, and linked to the Associació Obrera de Concerts (Workers' Society for Concerts). After the Spanish Civil War
(1936-1939), both the orchestra and society were banned and Casals was exiled to France.
In 1944, a new Barcelona civic orchestra - the current Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona
- was founded with the name of Barcelona Municipal Orchestra, created by the City Hall and promoted by the Catalan conductor and composer Eduard Toldrà
. Eduard Toldrà, through his leadership, helped to consolidate the orchestra's presence very early in the cultural life of the city. Barcelona has since had a regular cycle of symphonic concerts with the collaboration of the main national and foreign performers and with the aim to make classical music reach the greater public and especially to spread the work of Catalan composers.
After Toldrà's death in 1962, Rafael Ferrer became the head of the orchestra until 1967, when Antoni Ros-Marbà
succeeded him. From this moment, it received the name of Orquestra Ciutat de Barcelona (City of Barcelona Orchestra, or OCB) until the constitution of the Consortium made up of the Government of Catalonia
and Barcelona City Hall, in the 1994/95 season, which gave it the current name of Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra), known as OBC.
In 1994/1995 season a Consortium made up of the Government of Catalonia
and Barcelona City Hall was constituted. Since 2006, the music director and artistic director is Eiji Oue
. Oue is scheduled to conclude his tenure in 2010. In April 2009, the orchestra announced the appointment of Pablo González
as its next music director, effective with the 2010-2011 season. The current principal guest conductors of the orchestra are Franz-Paul Decker
and Ernest Martínez Izquierdo.
In its more than 50 years, the OBC has programmed numerous first performances and has made several recordings including recordings with Decca
, EMI
, Auvidis, Koch
, Claves
and Naxos Records
. Works by Xavier Montsalvatge
, Frederic Mompou, Robert Gerhard, Manuel de Falla
, Joaquim Homs, Mestres Quadreny, Xavier Benguerel, Salvador Brotons, etc., were performed.
s of musical compositions, including the following:
, France
, Switzerland
, Austria
, the Czech Republic
and Slovakia
, Korea
, Japan
, Romania
and Puerto Rico
. In 2002, it toured the United States
, culminating in the Carnegie Hall
in New York City
, and in the summer of the same year, another tour to Germany, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the BBC Proms in London.
Since April 1999, the Orchestra has had its new headquarters for its musical activity in the new auditorium in Barcelona, L'Auditori
, designed by Rafael Moneo
. From its foundation to 1998, the orchestra was resident at the Palau de la Música Catalana
, Barcelona.
History
In addition to the Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del LiceuOrquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu
Titular symphony orchestra from the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Founded, as the theater, in 1847, it is the oldest orchestra still working in Barcelona, and the oldest in Spain...
, founded in 1847 and devoted to opera and ballet, Barcelona has had several symphonic orchestras since 1888. From 1910 to 1924, a private-based Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona gave its concerts in the Teatre Eldorado, led by Joan Lamote de Grignon
Joan Lamote de Grignon
Joan Lamote de Grignon i Bocquet , was a Catalan Spanish pianist, composer and orchestra director.Joan Lamote de Grignon was born and died in Barcelona, the son of parents of French descent Lluis Lamote de Grignon and Elena Bocquet. In 1911 he founded the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, of which he...
. After it, the city's principal orchestra was the Orquestra Pau Casals (1920-1936), conducted by Pablo Casals
Pablo Casals
Pau Casals i Defilló , known during his professional career as Pablo Casals, was a Spanish Catalan cellist and conductor. He is generally regarded as the pre-eminent cellist of the first half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest cellists of all time...
, and linked to the Associació Obrera de Concerts (Workers' Society for Concerts). After the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
(1936-1939), both the orchestra and society were banned and Casals was exiled to France.
In 1944, a new Barcelona civic orchestra - the current Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona
The Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Barcelona, Spain.-History:In addition to the Orquestra Simfònica del Gran Teatre del Liceu, founded in 1847 and devoted to opera and ballet, Barcelona has had several symphonic orchestras since 1888...
- was founded with the name of Barcelona Municipal Orchestra, created by the City Hall and promoted by the Catalan conductor and composer Eduard Toldrà
Eduard Toldrà
Eduard Toldrà Soler was a Spanish Catalan conductor and composer.Toldrà played an important role in the Culture of Barcelona. In 1944 he founded the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra at the Palau de la Música Catalana, where his deputy in 1957 was his friend Ricardo Lamote de Grignon...
. Eduard Toldrà, through his leadership, helped to consolidate the orchestra's presence very early in the cultural life of the city. Barcelona has since had a regular cycle of symphonic concerts with the collaboration of the main national and foreign performers and with the aim to make classical music reach the greater public and especially to spread the work of Catalan composers.
After Toldrà's death in 1962, Rafael Ferrer became the head of the orchestra until 1967, when Antoni Ros-Marbà
Antoni Ros-Marbà
Antoni Ros-Marbà is a Spanish conductor from Catalonia. He began his musical education at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona...
succeeded him. From this moment, it received the name of Orquestra Ciutat de Barcelona (City of Barcelona Orchestra, or OCB) until the constitution of the Consortium made up of the Government of Catalonia
Government of Catalonia
The Government of Catalonia is the executive branch of the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is responsible for the political action, reglamentation and administration of the Generalitat....
and Barcelona City Hall, in the 1994/95 season, which gave it the current name of Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i Nacional de Catalunya (Barcelona Symphony and Catalonia National Orchestra), known as OBC.
In 1994/1995 season a Consortium made up of the Government of Catalonia
Government of Catalonia
The Government of Catalonia is the executive branch of the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is responsible for the political action, reglamentation and administration of the Generalitat....
and Barcelona City Hall was constituted. Since 2006, the music director and artistic director is Eiji Oue
Eiji Oue
is a Japanese conductor.Oue began his conducting studies with Hideo Saito of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. In 1978, Seiji Ozawa invited him to spend the summer studying at the Tanglewood Music Center. While there, he met Leonard Bernstein, who became a mentor. Oue won the Tanglewood...
. Oue is scheduled to conclude his tenure in 2010. In April 2009, the orchestra announced the appointment of Pablo González
Pablo González Bernardo
Pablo González Bernardo , is a Spanish conductor.-Biography:Pablo González was born in Oviedo, Spain, and studied at the Conservatoire in his hometown and in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama...
as its next music director, effective with the 2010-2011 season. The current principal guest conductors of the orchestra are Franz-Paul Decker
Franz-Paul Decker
Franz-Paul Decker is a German-born conductor.-Biography:Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst...
and Ernest Martínez Izquierdo.
Music directors
- Eduard Toldrà (1944-1962)
- Rafael FerrerRafael FerrerRafael Ferrer is an American actor.Ferrer is the son of José Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney, and the brother of Miguel and Gabriel. He is a cousin of George Clooney. Ferrer is best known for his voiceover work in commercials, trailers and on-air promotions...
(1962-1967) - Antoni Ros-MarbàAntoni Ros-MarbàAntoni Ros-Marbà is a Spanish conductor from Catalonia. He began his musical education at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona...
(1967-1978) - Salvador Mas (1978-1981)
- Antoni Ros-MarbàAntoni Ros-MarbàAntoni Ros-Marbà is a Spanish conductor from Catalonia. He began his musical education at the Conservatori Superior de Música de Barcelona...
(1981-1986) - Franz-Paul DeckerFranz-Paul DeckerFranz-Paul Decker is a German-born conductor.-Biography:Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst...
(1986-1991) - Antonio García Navarro (1991-1993)
- 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...
(1994-2002) - Ernest Martínez Izquierdo (2002-2005)
- Eiji OueEiji Oueis a Japanese conductor.Oue began his conducting studies with Hideo Saito of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. In 1978, Seiji Ozawa invited him to spend the summer studying at the Tanglewood Music Center. While there, he met Leonard Bernstein, who became a mentor. Oue won the Tanglewood...
(2006-2010) - Pablo González BernardoPablo González BernardoPablo González Bernardo , is a Spanish conductor.-Biography:Pablo González was born in Oviedo, Spain, and studied at the Conservatoire in his hometown and in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama...
(since 2010)
Performances
The orchestra gives an average of ninety concerts a year (usually, three a week (Friday 21 pm, Saturday 19 pm and Sunday 11 am), during the season) with tours in several cities in Catalonia and Spain, and contributes to the repertoire of Catalan music with many premières and recordings. Its stable season brings together more than 10,000 subscriptions and 145,000 spectators.In its more than 50 years, the OBC has programmed numerous first performances and has made several recordings including recordings with Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
, Auvidis, Koch
Koch Records
E1 Music , the primary subsidiary of E1 Entertainment LP, is the largest independent record label in the United States. It is also distributed by the Universal Music Group in Europe under the name E1 Universal...
, Claves
Claves
Claves are a percussion instrument , consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone), consisting of a pair of short Claves (Anglicized pronunciation: clah-vays, IPA:[ˈklαves]) are a percussion instrument (idiophone),...
and Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
. Works by Xavier Montsalvatge
Xavier Montsalvatge
Xavier Montsalvatge i Bassols was a Spanish Catalan composer and music critic. He was one of the most influential music figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the 20th century.-Life:...
, Frederic Mompou, Robert Gerhard, Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla
Manuel de Falla y Matheu was a Spanish Andalusian composer of classical music. With Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados and Joaquín Turina he is one of Spain's most important musicians of the first half of the 20th century....
, Joaquim Homs, Mestres Quadreny, Xavier Benguerel, Salvador Brotons, etc., were performed.
Premières performed
As the city's main orchestra, the OBC has performed many world premièrePremiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
s of musical compositions, including the following:
- 1948 Xavier MontsalvatgeXavier MontsalvatgeXavier Montsalvatge i Bassols was a Spanish Catalan composer and music critic. He was one of the most influential music figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the 20th century.-Life:...
's Simfonia mediterrània (Mediterranean Symphony). - 1952 Jaume Pahissa's El camí (The way).
- 1960 Xavier MontsalvatgeXavier MontsalvatgeXavier Montsalvatge i Bassols was a Spanish Catalan composer and music critic. He was one of the most influential music figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the 20th century.-Life:...
's Càntic espiritual. - 1961 Frederic Mompou's Variacions sobre un tema de Chopin for orchestra.
- 1963 Xavier MontsalvatgeXavier MontsalvatgeXavier Montsalvatge i Bassols was a Spanish Catalan composer and music critic. He was one of the most influential music figures in Catalan music during the latter half of the 20th century.-Life:...
's Desintegració morfològica de la xacona de J. S. Bach (Morphological disintegration of J.S. Bach's chaconne), and other of the composer's works. - 1964 Joaquim Homs' Invention for orchestra; other Homs works have had their premieres by OBC: Presències (1967), Brief symphony (1972), Nonet (1979)...
- 1974 Josep Soler's opera-oratorio Oedipus et Iocasta (many Soler works have been first performed by the OBC).
- 1997 Salvador Brotons' oratorio Stabat Mater
Overseas Tours
The OBC has maintained continuous artistic activity abroad, with tours in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, France
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...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In 2002, it toured the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, culminating in the Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and in the summer of the same year, another tour to Germany, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the BBC Proms in London.
Since April 1999, the Orchestra has had its new headquarters for its musical activity in the new auditorium in Barcelona, L'Auditori
L'Auditori
L'Auditori is a modern building of 42,000 square metres designed by the architect Rafael Moneo, opened on 22 March 1999, in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, designed by Rafael Moneo
Rafael Moneo
José Rafael Moneo Vallés is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. From 1958 to 1961 he worked in the office in Madrid...
. From its foundation to 1998, the orchestra was resident at the Palau de la Música Catalana
Palau de la Música Catalana
The Palau de la Música Catalana is a concert hall in Barcelona. Designed in the Catalan modernista style by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, it was built between 1905 and 1908 for the Orfeó Català, a choral society founded in 1891 that was a leading force in the Catalan cultural movement...
, Barcelona.