Montreal Symphony Orchestra
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, currently led by American conductor Kent Nagano Japanese origin, is the most prestigious professional symphony orchestra in Canada and among the best orchestras in America.
Origin
The idea of a symphony orchestra made its way to Montreal in the early 1930s, fueled by a media campaign, including the critic Henri Letondal. He and a group of citizens were the initiators of the project for which the Honourable David L. Athanasius obtained from the Quebec government a grant of $ 3,000. Founded in 1934, the first concert of the Orchestra took place January 14, 1935, at Plateau Hall (City Park) under the direction of Canadian conductor Rosario Bourdon. Including the orchestra played Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mendelssohn, Debussy, Goldmark, and Lavallée.
Having received the draft, Wilfrid Pelletier, then very active at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, gave him his support. Pelletier finally making its debut April 11, 1935. Shortly after, he became the first artistic director of the orchestra (1935-1940). During his tenure, several initiatives were launched: mornings Youth Symphony (1935), an annual prize composition Jean-Lallemand (1936-1938) and summer concerts on the esplanade of the Chalet du Mont-Royal (1938-1964) .
From 1940 to 1957, the Belgian Desire Defauw succeeds Pelletier and invites many renowned conductors such as Charles Munch, Bruno Walter, Georges Enesco, Igor Stravinsky, Leopold Stokowski, Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Monteux, Josef Krips, Ernest Ansermet and Otto Klemperer.
In 1957, Igor Markevitch, appointed new artistic director, increased the activities of the orchestra and made him acquire a professional status. Zubin Mehta replaces the 1961 to 1967, during which the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, made his first tour, and became the first Canadian orchestra to have occurred in Europe. He was replaced by Franz-Paul Decker from 1967 to 1975, then briefly by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos 1975-1976.
The period Charles Dutoit
In 1977, Charles Dutoit became artistic director of the orchestra, a position he held until 2002. It was under his influence that are created Mozart Plus Festival at Notre-Dame in Old Montreal, and several free concerts in parks in the Montreal area. In 1981, the band toured Canada and the continental United States of America, then from 1981 to 1987, seven rounds in Asia including Japan six runs, nine tours in Europe and two in South America.
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra then performed five concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in August 1987, and three concerts at the Ravinia Festival in the summer of 1988. In 1990, the orchestra responds to the invitation to the prestigious summer festival at Tanglewood, Boston Symphony Orchestra, while performing annually at Carnegie Hall in New York since 1982.
It follows a period of rest, until 1999, then joins the orchestra for the 15th Festival de Musica de Canarias in the Canary Islands in January and then began a tour in Japan during the month of June, then a two-week tour in Germany. In February 2000, the orchestra made a tour of a week in Florida.
In the late 1990s, the industry recorded classical music began to decline, London / Decca ended his recordings, thus depriving many MSO recording capabilities. This was only the beginning of difficult times. . In 1998, the band experienced a conflict of work and a musicians' strike caused by these conditions. The strike ended after three weeks thanks to the intervention of Dutoit and his good relationship with the Premier of Quebec, Lucien Bouchard.
However, tensions do not necessarily dispersed. In 2002, when Charles Dutoit attempts to dismiss two members of the orchestra, several musicians are strongly opposed to this decision. Dutoit resigned shortly afterwards. He returned to the principal guest conductor, Jacques Lacombe, maintain the orchestra afloat, which earned him the praise of critics.
Dutoit's departure, the appointment of Kent Nagano
From 2003-2004, the scandal caused by the resignation of Charles Dutoit, who had kept away several soloists in the previous year, vanished. Cellist Yo-Yo Ma returned for engagements in the MSO. They announce the appointment of Kent Nagano as music director in March 2004 (he went into effect in 2006).
Upon taking office, Nagano announces the OSM's International Composition Competition Olivier Messiaen, and in May 2006, the orchestra played in Paris, marking its first concert outside of Canada for his tour in Florida 2000.
On May 28, 2009, Premier Jean Charest announced the start of construction of the hall of the OSM. The new hall of the MSO, named Symphony Address, worth 259 million, will be ready to host its first concert in 2011.
Projects Hall Montreal Symphony Orchestra
In the history of the orchestra, three projects have been screened rooms, advertised and finally abandoned. Various misfortunes and changes of government for this. Finally, a new room (4th room project in the history of the orchestra) is currently under construction and will be inaugurated in 2011.
* In 1983, the artistic director of the Orchestra of the time, Mehta, and Council President Leo Kolber, announce that they develop a plan for a concert hall that would be constructed in a commercial complex to be built in quadrilateral formed by the rue Sainte-Catherine West, Mansfield, de Maisonneuve and McGill College by the company Cadillac Fairview. The bill would have blocked the bridge west of McGill College Avenue and much of the mountain views. The municipal government of Jean Drapeau originally supported the project initially. By cons, several groups of players raise a basic opposition: the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, the developers, preservationists, including Heritage Montreal, journalists as well as the citizenry. The business community is particularly challenged by the question given the prestige of the street which offers an exceptional view of Mount Royal because of the release that provides the campus of McGill University. The sponsor agrees to hold public consultations on the urban design of the Avenue and the proposed complex. The preservation of perspective on the mountain emerges as an item value without reservation. The Cadillac Fairview project is abandoned.
* In fall 1984, Montreal Mayor Jean Drapeau, withdrew its support of an inflammatory and announced that the concert hall will be built instead in the quadrangle formed by the Rue Sainte-Catherine, Berri and de Maisonneuve Saint-Hubert (current location of the Place Emilie-Gamelin). In January 1985, we announced the selection of a promoter (Sofati) and the first sod on the site was closed July 11, 1985 by Quebec Premier Rene Levesque. The project includes the main hall of 2,600 seats, a 600-space underground parking, an underground shopping arcade and the School of Music at UQAM will occupy three floors above the administrative offices of OSM on the face NE complex. The school must also hold a small hall with 700 seats on the west side. Montreal had built a park on the remaining space.
* On December 12, 1985, the Government of the Parti Quebecois was defeated in the general election by the Liberals led by Robert Bourassa.
In October 1986 * An advisory committee created by the Minister of Cultural Affairs of Quebec and chaired by Jean-Pierre Goyer recommended not to build the concert hall where Mayor Jean Drapeau wanted.
* On February 22, 2002, the Quebec Premier Bernard Landry announced the construction of a concert hall for the orchestra at a cost of $ 97 million to be included in a complex $ 281 million, including the local Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Montreal and the Montreal Conservatory of Music and an office tower for officials of the Government of Quebec [2]. The complex was erected in the quadrangle bounded by Rue Sainte-Catherine, Jeanne-Mance and de Maisonneuve Bleury, also known as the Balmoral block.
* On June 28, 2002, the Minister of Culture of Quebec, Diane Lemieux, announces a competition to find an architect to design the concert hall with the orchestra.
* On April 14, 2003, the Parti Quebecois was defeated in general elections and is replaced by the Liberals led by Jean Charest.
* On November 20, 2003, the Minister of Culture and Communications of Québec, Line Beauchamp, said that Quebec can not afford to build a concert hall without the participation of private partners. The 2002 project will not materialize.
* On June 22, 2006, the Minister of Culture and Communications Line Beauchamp announced that the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts in Montreal and the Montreal Conservatory of Music will be constructed at a cost of $ 45 million in the space it occupied already (on the Avenue Henri-Julien).
* On June 26, 2006, Premier Jean Charest, accompanied by former Prime Minister and Chairman of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Lucien Bouchard, confirmed plans for a new concert hall designed specifically for the Orchestra, the room would be located in the square of Place des Arts, at the corner of de Maisonneuve and St-Urbain. The project is valued at $ 105 million and will be conducted in public-private partnership. It should be delivered no later than 2011. The room that we want world-class, is the latest signed the famous acoustician Russell Johnson.
* On May 28, 2009, the Quebec Premier Jean Charest, Quebec Premier Jean Charest, accompanied by Minister of Culture Christine St-Pierre, former prime minister and current chairman of the board of Administration of MSO, Lucien Bouchard and the maestro Kent Nagano announces the start of construction of the hall of the OSM. Covering over 19,000 square meters, it will consist of 2000 seats and equipped with a tray that can accommodate 120 musicians and 200 singers. The new hall of the MSO, named Symphony Address, worth $ 259 million, will be ready to host its first concert in September 2011.
See also Canadian Culture
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