Philharmonia Hungarica
Encyclopedia
The Philharmonia Hungarica was a symphony orchestra, based in Germany
, which existed from 1956 to 2001.
It was first established in Baden bei Wien
near Vienna
by Hungarian
musicians who had fled their homeland after it was invaded by Soviet troops
. This refugee
ensemble gathered together some of Hungary's finest musical talent and was directed by none other than Zoltán Rozsnyai
, former conductor
of the Hungarian National Philharmonic. Through the ardent efforts of Rozsnyai and honorary president Antal Doráti
, the Philharmonia Hungarica quickly matured into one of Europe's most distinguished orchestras. During the 1970s, Doráti and the orchestra, under contract with Decca Records
, made a recording of the complete cycle of Joseph Haydn
's symphonies
; only one other ensemble, the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, conducted by Ádám Fischer
, has since repeated this feat. Doráti's recording has been widely reported as a world-first, however this was not the case. Ernst Märzendorfer
earlier recorded the complete Haydn symphonies with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra
, however it was given a very limited release.
In 1976 the Philharmonia Hungarica recorded Jon Lord
's critically acclaimed 'Sarabande' album, an original collection of movements inspired by the baroque dance suites.
From the orchestra's inception, the West German government sought to harness its anti-Soviet
propaganda
potential. As a result, the government generously funded the orchestra throughout the Cold War
and continued extending subsidies even after the Iron Curtain
fell in 1990. The full withdrawal of state subsidies at the start of 2001, combined with the long-term decline in concert attendances, aggravated the financial problems that threatened the orchestra's survival.
The beleaguered Philharmonia Hungarica finally disbanded after giving a farewell concert in Düsseldorf
on 22 April 2001, featuring a performance of Anton Bruckner
's Symphony No. 9
including the Finale (Ed. Nicola Samale
, John A. Phillips, Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs
and Giuseppe Mazzuca) conducted by Robert Bachmann, as well as the German first performance of the Documentation of the Finale Fragment, edited by John A. Phillips, conducted and presented by Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs
. The concert was attended by an estimated audience of 150 in a concert hall meant to hold 2000 (Tonhalle Düsseldorf), after members of the German Orchestral Union had falsely announced in public that the concert would be cancelled. Plans to rescue the orchestra failed, because there was no political interest any longer to keep it alive.
Germany
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...
, which existed from 1956 to 2001.
It was first established in Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien
-Points of interest:The town offers several parks and a picturesque surrounding, of which the most frequented is the Helenental valley. Not far from Baden, the valley is crossed by a widespread aqueduct of the Vienna waterworks...
near Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
by Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
musicians who had fled their homeland after it was invaded by Soviet troops
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
. This refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
ensemble gathered together some of Hungary's finest musical talent and was directed by none other than Zoltán Rozsnyai
Zoltán Rozsnyai
Zoltán Rozsnyai was an Hungarian conductor and musical director.Born in Budapest, he was a graduate of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, where he studied under Zoltan Kodaly, Bela Bartok, and Ernest von Dohnányi, among others. Already a concert pianist at the age of 10, he was one of the youngest...
, former 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...
of the Hungarian National Philharmonic. Through the ardent efforts of Rozsnyai and honorary president Antal Doráti
Antal Doráti
Antal Doráti, KBE was a Hungarian-born conductor and composer who became a naturalized American citizen in 1947.-Biography:...
, the Philharmonia Hungarica quickly matured into one of Europe's most distinguished orchestras. During the 1970s, Doráti and the orchestra, under contract with Decca Records
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....
, made a recording of the complete cycle of Joseph Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
's symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
; only one other ensemble, the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, conducted by Ádám Fischer
Ádám Fischer
Ádám Fischer is a Hungarian conductor of Jewish family origin. He is the general music director of the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, with which he has recorded the complete Haydn symphonies for the Nimbus label, the first digital recording of the cycle...
, has since repeated this feat. Doráti's recording has been widely reported as a world-first, however this was not the case. Ernst Märzendorfer
Ernst Märzendorfer
Ernst Märzendorfer was an Austrian conductor. He was the first conductor to make a complete recording of the 107 symphonies of Joseph Haydn, and conducted a number of important opera premieres.-Biography:...
earlier recorded the complete Haydn symphonies with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra
Vienna Chamber Orchestra
The Vienna Chamber Orchestra is an Austrian chamber orchestra based at the Vienna Konzerthaus....
, however it was given a very limited release.
In 1976 the Philharmonia Hungarica recorded Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
's critically acclaimed 'Sarabande' album, an original collection of movements inspired by the baroque dance suites.
From the orchestra's inception, the West German government sought to harness its anti-Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
potential. As a result, the government generously funded the orchestra throughout the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and continued extending subsidies even after the Iron Curtain
Iron Curtain
The concept of the Iron Curtain symbolized the ideological fighting and physical boundary dividing Europe into two separate areas from the end of World War II in 1945 until the end of the Cold War in 1989...
fell in 1990. The full withdrawal of state subsidies at the start of 2001, combined with the long-term decline in concert attendances, aggravated the financial problems that threatened the orchestra's survival.
The beleaguered Philharmonia Hungarica finally disbanded after giving a farewell concert in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
on 22 April 2001, featuring a performance of Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
's Symphony No. 9
Symphony No. 9 (Bruckner)
Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 9 in D minor is the last Symphony upon which he worked, leaving the last movement incomplete at the time of his death in 1896. The symphony was premiered under Ferdinand Löwe in Vienna in 1903, after Bruckner's death...
including the Finale (Ed. Nicola Samale
Nicola Samale
Nicola Samale , is a composer and conductor.- Biography :...
, John A. Phillips, Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs
Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs
Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs is a German conductor, scholar, and publicist on music.- Early career :Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs gave his early conducting debut 1984 with the orchestra of the Youth Music School in Hameln, where he received his early musical education since 1972...
and Giuseppe Mazzuca) conducted by Robert Bachmann, as well as the German first performance of the Documentation of the Finale Fragment, edited by John A. Phillips, conducted and presented by Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs
Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs
Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs is a German conductor, scholar, and publicist on music.- Early career :Benjamin-Gunnar Cohrs gave his early conducting debut 1984 with the orchestra of the Youth Music School in Hameln, where he received his early musical education since 1972...
. The concert was attended by an estimated audience of 150 in a concert hall meant to hold 2000 (Tonhalle Düsseldorf), after members of the German Orchestral Union had falsely announced in public that the concert would be cancelled. Plans to rescue the orchestra failed, because there was no political interest any longer to keep it alive.
External links
- Philharmonia Hungarica official website archived at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
- Rozsnyai's establishment of the Philharmonia Hungarica
- Matthew Westphal, "Philharmonia Hungarica Play Final Concert and Disbands", Andante (April 24, 2001)