State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation
Encyclopedia
The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation (Государственный Академический Симфонический Оркестр России) is a Russia
n orchestra based in Moscow
. Sometimes known in English as the Russian State Symphony Orchestra
, the orchestra gives concerts in Moscow at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory
and at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
The orchestra was founded in 1936 as the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, with Alexander Gauk as its first music director. The orchestra acquired its current name after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
. The orchestra's longest serving music director was Evgeny Svetlanov
, from 1965 to 2000. Svetlanov's tenure ended with his controversial dismissal by Russia's minister of culture, Mikhail Shvydkoi, who had accused Svetlanov of spending excessive time conducting outside of Russia. In 2005, the orchestra officially acquired the additional name of Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra.
Mark Gorenstein
succeeded Svetlanov as music director from 2002 to 2011. In 2011, Gorenstein caused controversy with his remarks about Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan during the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition, which led to his removal as conductor for the competition. The orchestra then demanded Gorenstein's dismissal from the orchestra, with accusations of abusive behaviour.. Gorenstein was subsequently dismissed from the orchestra in September 2011.
In October 2011, the orchestra announced the appointment of Vladimir Jurowski
as its sixth and current principal conductor, with immediate effect, for an initial contract of 3 years.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n orchestra based in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Sometimes known in English as the Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Russian State Symphony Orchestra
Russian State Symphony Orchestra is a name confusingly used by two distinct ensembles:* The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation, which was formerly the USSR State Symphony Orchestra...
, the orchestra gives concerts in Moscow at the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
and at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall.
The orchestra was founded in 1936 as the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, with Alexander Gauk as its first music director. The orchestra acquired its current name after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
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....
. The orchestra's longest serving music director was Evgeny Svetlanov
Evgeny Svetlanov
Yevgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov was a Russian conductor, composer, and though less well-known, a pianist.Svetlanov was born in Moscow and studied conducting at the Moscow Conservatory. From 1955 he conducted at the Bolshoi Theatre, being appointed principal conductor there in 1962...
, from 1965 to 2000. Svetlanov's tenure ended with his controversial dismissal by Russia's minister of culture, Mikhail Shvydkoi, who had accused Svetlanov of spending excessive time conducting outside of Russia. In 2005, the orchestra officially acquired the additional name of Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra.
Mark Gorenstein
Mark Gorenstein
Mark Borisovich Gorenstein is a Russian conductor. He grew up in Odessa and studied at the conservatory in Kishinev. He later played violin in the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the then USSR....
succeeded Svetlanov as music director from 2002 to 2011. In 2011, Gorenstein caused controversy with his remarks about Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan during the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition, which led to his removal as conductor for the competition. The orchestra then demanded Gorenstein's dismissal from the orchestra, with accusations of abusive behaviour.. Gorenstein was subsequently dismissed from the orchestra in September 2011.
In October 2011, the orchestra announced the appointment of Vladimir Jurowski
Vladimir Jurowski
Vladimir Mikhailovich Jurowski is a Russian conductor. He is the son of conductor Mikhail Jurowski.Jurowski began his musical studies at the Moscow Conservatory...
as its sixth and current principal conductor, with immediate effect, for an initial contract of 3 years.
Music Directors/Principal Conductors
- Alexander Gauk (1936-1941)
- Natan RakhlinNatan RakhlinNatan Grigoryevich Rakhlin was a Ukrainian conductor....
(1941-1945) - Konstantin IvanovKonstantin Ivanov (conductor)The third man to hold the post of conductor of the USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Konstantin Konstantinovich Ivanov , is known from a number of recordings made by the old USSR state recording company Melodiya, but biographical information about him has been hard to find.-Career:A brief article in...
(1946-1965) - Evgeny SvetlanovEvgeny SvetlanovYevgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov was a Russian conductor, composer, and though less well-known, a pianist.Svetlanov was born in Moscow and studied conducting at the Moscow Conservatory. From 1955 he conducted at the Bolshoi Theatre, being appointed principal conductor there in 1962...
(1965-2000) - Mark GorensteinMark GorensteinMark Borisovich Gorenstein is a Russian conductor. He grew up in Odessa and studied at the conservatory in Kishinev. He later played violin in the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra and the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the then USSR....
(2002-2011) - Vladimir JurowskiVladimir JurowskiVladimir Mikhailovich Jurowski is a Russian conductor. He is the son of conductor Mikhail Jurowski.Jurowski began his musical studies at the Moscow Conservatory...
(2011-present)