Austin Symphony Orchestra
Austin Symphony Orchestra | |
---|---|
Orchestra | |
Founded | 1911 |
Website | www |
The Austin Symphony Orchestra is the oldest performing group in Austin, Texas. It was founded in 1911, and celebrated its centenary year in 2011.
History[]
The inaugural concert was held on April 25, 1911.[1] Initially, the orchestra consisted of 28 unpaid members and an unpaid conductor.[2] It now has over 90 members, but is still not a full-time orchestra.[1] It was not until 1948 that a paid Music Director was appointed - Ezra Rachlin being the first appointee – and a regular concert series was presented.[1] Rachlin remained in the post for 21 years, until 1969.[3]
Ezra Rachlin organised a drive-in concert, the world's first, in 1948. The first children's concert was held in 1951.[2]
The Centennial Gala Performance took place on April 28, 2011, and featured the violinist Itzhak Perlman as soloist,[4] as well as a performance of Alexandre Luigini's Ballet égyptien, which was played at the first performance a century earlier.[2]
Organization[]
The current, and eighth, Music Director of the Austin Symphony Orchestra is Peter Bay, who has been in the post since 1997.[1][5] Past Directors include Maurice Peress (1970–73), Akira Endo and Sung Kwak.[6]
The symphony plays its regular season concerts in Dell Hall at the Long Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Austin. [7]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Austin 360.com
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Texas Home and Living, 18 March 2011 Archived October 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ ezrarachlin.com
- ^ "The Austin Symphony". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-04-09.
- ^ The Austin Symphony
- ^ Gershunoff Artists Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dinges, Gary (November 17, 2015). "New outdoor concert series planned for Long Center". Austin American Statesman. Archived from the original on June 8, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- American orchestras
- Organizations based in Austin, Texas
- Culture of Austin, Texas
- 1911 establishments in Texas
- Musical groups established in 1911
- Texas classical music
- Orchestras based in Texas