Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra

The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR) was a German radio orchestra based in Stuttgart in Germany.

History

The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchestra for Radio Stuttgart, under the name Sinfonieorchester von Radio Stuttgart (Symphony Orchestra of Radio Stuttgart). The radio network later became the Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR, South German Radio), and the orchestra changed its name in 1949 to the Sinfonieorchester des Süddeutschen Rundfunks (South German Radio Symphony Orchestra). In 1959, the orchestra took on the name Südfunk-Sinfonieorchester. The orchestra acquired its final name in 1975.

Like many broadcast orchestras in Germany, the orchestra had a reputation for performing contemporary music. Past principal conductors included Sir Neville Marriner (1983–1989), who later held the title of principal guest conductor.[1] Georges Prêtre, who became the orchestra's artistic director in 1996, later held the title of Ehrendirigent (honorary conductor) with the orchestra. From 1998 to 2011, Roger Norrington was principal conductor, and incorporated his ideas of historically informed performance, including minimal use of vibrato, into the orchestra's style of playing.[2] Following his tenure with the orchestra, Norrington shared the title of Ehrendirigent with Georges Prêtre. In March 2010, the orchestra announced the appointment of Stéphane Denève as its next principal conductor, starting with the 2011-2012 season.[3] His initial contract was for 3 years.[4] In June 2013, the orchestra announced the extension of Denève's contract through the 2015-2016 season.[5] Denève concluded his tenure as chief conductor at the close of the 2015-2016 season, and was the final conductor to hold the title of chief conductor of the orchestra.

In June 2012, the SWR Broadcasting Council voted to approve a measure proposed by SWR Intendant Peter Boudgoust to merge the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra with the Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra, for ostensible reasons of budgetary limitations for two separate orchestras affiliated with the SWR.[6] The SWR Broadcasting Council formally passed the measure in September 2012, with the merger of the two orchestras scheduled to occur in 2016.[7] International protests at the proposal emerged.[8] The orchestra gave its final concert on 28 July 2016 under the direction of Norrington, at the Royal Albert Hall as part of The Proms.[9] The replacement orchestra is the SWR Symphonieorchester.

The orchestra recorded for several labels, including Hänssler[10][11][12] and ECM New Series.[13]

Principal conductors

References
  1. Allan Kozinn (25 September 1994). "It All Started With Tunes From the Crypt". New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2009.
  2. Erica Jeal (25 July 2001). "Prom 4 (Royal Albert Hall, London)". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  3. "'Liebe auf den ersten Blick' - Stéphane Denève wird ab September 2011 neuer Chefdirigent beim RSO Stuttgart" (Press release). Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra. 3 March 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
  4. Götz Thieme (22 September 2011). "Am Pult des RSO steht nun ein Lockenkopf". Stuttgarter Zeitung. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  5. "Dirigent Denève bleibt bis 2016" (Press release). SWR. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  6. Götz Thieme (30 June 2012). "Die Orchesterfusion rückt näher". Stuttgarter Zeitung. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  7. "Fusion der SWR-Orchester beschlossen: Rundfunkrat stimmte mit großer Mehrheit für die Vorlage des SWR". Südwestrundfunk. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  8. Gerald Mertens (3 March 2014). "A united front against orchestral mergers". The Strad. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  9. Ivan Hewett (29 July 2016). "BBC Proms 2016: reviews of the best Proms so far". Telegraph. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. Andrew Clements (6 July 2007). "Mahler: Symphony No 2, Rubens/ Vermillion/ MDR Radio Choir Leipzig/ SWR Radio SO Stuttgart/ Norrington". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  11. Andrew Clements (2 May 2008). "Bruckner: Symphony No 3, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orch/ Norrington". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  12. Andrew Clements (16 January 2009). "Rihm: Symphonies Nos 1 and 2; Nachtwach; Vers Une Symphonie Fleuve III; etc; SWR Vocalensemble/Creed/Stuttgart SWR Radio SO/Stockhammer/Gelmetti". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  13. Andrew Clements (25 May 2007). "Silvestrov: Symphony No 6, SWR Stuttgart Radio SO/ Boreyko". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
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