Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra located in Buffalo, New York
. Its primary performing venue is Kleinhans Music Hall
, which is a National Historic Landmark
. Its regular concert season features gala concerts, classics programming of core repertoire, Pops concerts, educational Youth Concerts and family concerts. During the summer months, the Orchestra performs at many parks and outdoor venues across Western New York, with Classics, Pops, opera and ballet offerings at Artpark on the Niagara Gorge in Lewiston, New York
.
Cameron Baird, Frederick Slee, and Samuel Capen founded the orchestra in 1934. (Baird's and Slee's names now grace the two buildings which house the music department at the University at Buffalo
, while the university's main administration building is named after Capen.) The BPO first performed during the 1935–1936 season under music director Lajos Shuk, and moved to Kleinhans when it opened in 1947.
Past music directors have included William Steinberg
, Josef Krips
, Lukas Foss
, Michael Tilson Thomas
, and Semyon Bychkov. During Foss's tenure, the BPO was considered the world leader in performance of 20th century symphonic music. The current music director is JoAnn Falletta
, the orchestra's first female music director. Her current contract in Buffalo is through the 2011–2012 season. Matthew Kraemer is the current resident conductor. The orchestra also performs under the baton of Paul Ferrington, who leads the orchestra in many community sponsored events at Kleinhans and throughout Western New York. Other celebrated conductors who have led the orchestra include Leonard Bernstein
, Igor Stravinsky
, Ralph Vaughan Williams
, Sir Neville Mariner, and Henry Mancini
. Doc Severinsen
was the resident pops conductor in the 1990s. Another notable BPO pops conductor was Marvin Hamlisch
who is best known for his Pulitzer Prize
-winning musical, A Chorus Line
. Actor Sorrell Booke
also conducted the orchestra on at least one occasion.
The orchestra has recorded extensively. Under Steinberg, the BPO performed a critically acclaimed recording of Dmitri Shostakovich
's Seventh Symphony. Under Falletta's ship, the BPO's recording program has focused on American composers for the Naxos label, including Frederick Converse
, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, and contemporary compositions, including the first commercial recording of John Corigliano
's Mr Tambourine Man which received two grammy awards
in 2009. The orchestra can also be heard in the soundtrack to Woody Allen
's Manhattan (film)
.
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Its primary performing venue is Kleinhans Music Hall
Kleinhans Music Hall
Kleinhans Music Hall, home of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, was built in the late 1930s and opened October 1940. It is located on Symphony Circle. The music hall was built as a part of the last will and testament of Edward L. and Mary Seaton Kleinhans, owners of the Kleinhans mens clothing...
, which is a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
. Its regular concert season features gala concerts, classics programming of core repertoire, Pops concerts, educational Youth Concerts and family concerts. During the summer months, the Orchestra performs at many parks and outdoor venues across Western New York, with Classics, Pops, opera and ballet offerings at Artpark on the Niagara Gorge in Lewiston, New York
Lewiston, New York
Lewiston is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 2,781 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Morgan Lewis, an early 19th-century governor of New York. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.The Village of Lewiston,...
.
Cameron Baird, Frederick Slee, and Samuel Capen founded the orchestra in 1934. (Baird's and Slee's names now grace the two buildings which house the music department at the University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, while the university's main administration building is named after Capen.) The BPO first performed during the 1935–1936 season under music director Lajos Shuk, and moved to Kleinhans when it opened in 1947.
Past music directors have included William Steinberg
William Steinberg
William Steinberg was a German-American conductor.- Biography :Steinberg was born Hans Wilhelm Steinberg in Cologne, Germany. He displayed early talent as a violinist, pianist, and composer, conducting his own choral/ orchestral composition at age 13...
, Josef Krips
Josef Krips
Josef Alois Krips was an Austrian conductor and violinist.-Biography:Krips was born in Vienna and went on to become a pupil of Eusebius Mandyczewski and Felix Weingartner. From 1921 to 1924, he served as Weingartner's assistant at the Vienna Volksoper and as répétiteur and chorus master...
, Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss
Lukas Foss was a German-born American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Music career:He was born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922. His father was the philosopher and scholar Martin Fuchs...
, Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
, and Semyon Bychkov. During Foss's tenure, the BPO was considered the world leader in performance of 20th century symphonic music. The current music director is JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta
JoAnn Falletta is an American classical musician and orchestral conductor.Falletta was educated at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School in New York City...
, the orchestra's first female music director. Her current contract in Buffalo is through the 2011–2012 season. Matthew Kraemer is the current resident conductor. The orchestra also performs under the baton of Paul Ferrington, who leads the orchestra in many community sponsored events at Kleinhans and throughout Western New York. Other celebrated conductors who have led the orchestra include Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
, Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Ralph Vaughan Williams OM was an English composer of symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores. He was also a collector of English folk music and song: this activity both influenced his editorial approach to the English Hymnal, beginning in 1904, in which he included many...
, Sir Neville Mariner, and Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
. Doc Severinsen
Doc Severinsen
Carl Hilding "Doc" Severinsen is an American pop and jazz trumpeter. He is best known for leading the NBC Orchestra on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.-Early life:...
was the resident pops conductor in the 1990s. Another notable BPO pops conductor was Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Frederick Hamlisch is an American composer. He is one of only thirteen people to have been awarded Emmys, Grammys, Oscars, and a Tony . He is also one of only two people to EGOT and also win a Pulitzer Prize...
who is best known for his Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning musical, A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
. Actor Sorrell Booke
Sorrell Booke
Sorrell Booke was an American actor who performed on stage, screen, and television. He is best known for his role as the heavyset, corrupt politician "Boss" Hogg in the television show The Dukes of Hazzard....
also conducted the orchestra on at least one occasion.
The orchestra has recorded extensively. Under Steinberg, the BPO performed a critically acclaimed recording of Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
's Seventh Symphony. Under Falletta's ship, the BPO's recording program has focused on American composers for the Naxos label, including Frederick Converse
Frederick Converse
Frederick Shepherd Converse , was an American composer of classical music.-Life and career:Converse was born in Newton, Massachusetts, the son of Edmund Winchester and Charlotte Augusta Converse. His father was a successful merchant, and president of the National Tube Works and the Conanicut Mills...
, Charles Tomlinson Griffes, and contemporary compositions, including the first commercial recording of John Corigliano
John Corigliano
John Corigliano is an American composer of classical music and a teacher of music. He is a distinguished professor of music at Lehman College in the City University of New York.-Biography:...
's Mr Tambourine Man which received two grammy awards
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
in 2009. The orchestra can also be heard in the soundtrack to Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
's Manhattan (film)
Manhattan (film)
Manhattan is a 1979 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen about a twice-divorced 42-year-old comedy writer who dates a 17-year-old girl before eventually falling in love with his best friend's mistress...
.
Music directors
- Lajos Shuk (1935–1936)
- Franco Autori (1936–1945)
- William SteinbergWilliam SteinbergWilliam Steinberg was a German-American conductor.- Biography :Steinberg was born Hans Wilhelm Steinberg in Cologne, Germany. He displayed early talent as a violinist, pianist, and composer, conducting his own choral/ orchestral composition at age 13...
(1945–1952) - Izler Solomon (1952–1953, conductor-in-residence)
- Josef KripsJosef KripsJosef Alois Krips was an Austrian conductor and violinist.-Biography:Krips was born in Vienna and went on to become a pupil of Eusebius Mandyczewski and Felix Weingartner. From 1921 to 1924, he served as Weingartner's assistant at the Vienna Volksoper and as répétiteur and chorus master...
(1954–1963) - Lukas FossLukas FossLukas Foss was a German-born American composer, conductor, and pianist.-Music career:He was born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922. His father was the philosopher and scholar Martin Fuchs...
(1963–1971) - Michael Tilson ThomasMichael Tilson ThomasMichael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
(1971–1979) - Julius RudelJulius RudelJulius Rudel is an American opera and orchestra conductor who emigrated to the United States from Austria at the age of 17 and studied conducting at the Mannes College of Music in New York City. He then forged a 35-year career with the New York City Opera, from 1944 to 1979, and was the Music...
(1979–1985) - Semyon Bychkov (1985–1989)
- Maximiano ValdesMaximiano ValdésMaximiano Valdés is a Chilean classical musician and orchestral conductor. Mr. Valdés is the Music Director of the in Spain.He is also the Music Director / Principal Conductor of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra.-Biography:...
(1989–1998) - JoAnn FallettaJoAnn FallettaJoAnn Falletta is an American classical musician and orchestral conductor.Falletta was educated at the Mannes College of Music and The Juilliard School in New York City...
(1999–present)
Concertmasters
- Jan Wolanek (1935–1940)
- Joseph Wincenc (1940–1941)
- Max Miller (1941–1961)
- Laszlo Steinhardt (1961–1964)
- Isidor Saslav (1964–1966)
- Albert PratzAlbert PratzAlbert Pratz was a Canadian violinist, conductor, composer, and music educator. He was awarded the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967. His compositional output was modest and consists of only instrumental works...
(1966–1969) - Charles Haupt (1969–2006)
- Michael Ludwig (2006–present)