Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (CPO) is a Canadian
orchestra, based in Calgary
, Alberta
. The orchestra gives the majority of its performances in the Jack Singer Concert Hall of the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
. It is also the orchestra for the Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet Company
.
with members of the Mount Royal Orchestra and the previous Calgary Symphony.
In 1955, the Dutch
conductor Henry Plukker created the Alberta Philharmonic, which in the same year merged with the Calgary Symphony. A new name, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra was chosen. Prelude, the orchestra's program magazine, began publication in October 1975 and continues to be their official concert programme. The Orchestra often features the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, a chorus of over 100 members. On average the CPO performs over 65 concerts per season to over 100,000 people in Calgary and surrounding area.
In 2001, management of the orchestra initiated a lockout
and salaries of the players were cut by an average of 20 percent. In 2002, the orchestra had declared bankruptcy. In 2003, the orchestra came out of receivership, and Mike Bregazzi became their CEO and president. He retired from these posts in 2005. Ann Lewis became the orchestra's next CEO.
The current music director of the orchestra is Roberto Minczuk, who was named to the post in July 2005. His initial contract was for 3 years, starting with the 2006-2007 season. Other members of the conducting staff are resident conductor Mélanie Léonard and chorus master Timothy Shantz. Ivars Taurins is Principal Baroque Conductor. Mario Bernardi is the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate and Hans Graf is Music Director Laureate. Czech-born violinist Cenek J. Vrba
is concertmaster.
In 2010, Donovan Seidle, the orchestra's assistant concertmaster, drew international attention when he served as the associate music director of the Vancouver Olympics
, under Dave Pierce
, the music director during the games and whom he had worked frequently for. He wrote some of the instrumental music used during the opening ceremony
, among them an arrangement of the Olympic Hymn, which was performed in English and French.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
orchestra, based in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. The orchestra gives the majority of its performances in the Jack Singer Concert Hall of the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts
The EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts is a multi-venue arts centre in downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada, located in the Olympic Plaza Cultural District.-History:...
. It is also the orchestra for the Calgary Opera and Alberta Ballet Company
Alberta Ballet Company
The Alberta Ballet is located in Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta. It is Canada’s third largest dance company. Alberta Ballet has developed a distinctive repertoire and performance quality that has brought it to the forefront of national and international stages.- Creation :The Alberta Ballet was...
.
History
The Orchestra has a relatively short history, which began in 1910 with the founding of the First Calgary Symphony by violinist A.P. Howell. In 1947 the New Calgary Symphony was formed by Clayton HareClayton Hare
Clayton Hare was a Canadian teacher, conductor, and violinist. He was the third principal conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and taught at a number of universities including Mount Allison University, the University of Portland, and Mount Royal College.-External links:* at The Canadian...
with members of the Mount Royal Orchestra and the previous Calgary Symphony.
In 1955, the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
conductor Henry Plukker created the Alberta Philharmonic, which in the same year merged with the Calgary Symphony. A new name, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra was chosen. Prelude, the orchestra's program magazine, began publication in October 1975 and continues to be their official concert programme. The Orchestra often features the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, a chorus of over 100 members. On average the CPO performs over 65 concerts per season to over 100,000 people in Calgary and surrounding area.
In 2001, management of the orchestra initiated a lockout
Lockout (industry)
A lockout is a work stoppage in which an employer prevents employees from working. This is different from a strike, in which employees refuse to work.- Causes :...
and salaries of the players were cut by an average of 20 percent. In 2002, the orchestra had declared bankruptcy. In 2003, the orchestra came out of receivership, and Mike Bregazzi became their CEO and president. He retired from these posts in 2005. Ann Lewis became the orchestra's next CEO.
The current music director of the orchestra is Roberto Minczuk, who was named to the post in July 2005. His initial contract was for 3 years, starting with the 2006-2007 season. Other members of the conducting staff are resident conductor Mélanie Léonard and chorus master Timothy Shantz. Ivars Taurins is Principal Baroque Conductor. Mario Bernardi is the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate and Hans Graf is Music Director Laureate. Czech-born violinist Cenek J. Vrba
Cenek J. Vrba
Cenek J. Vrba is a violinist and concertmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. He was born in 1948 in the Czech Republic and is one of Canada's foremost violinists, being described as a “True inheritor of the Czech string tradition…violinist of a rare distinction”. .His early music training...
is concertmaster.
In 2010, Donovan Seidle, the orchestra's assistant concertmaster, drew international attention when he served as the associate music director of the Vancouver Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, under Dave Pierce
Dave Pierce
Dave Pierce is a Canadian Emmy-winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, orchestrator...
, the music director during the games and whom he had worked frequently for. He wrote some of the instrumental music used during the opening ceremony
2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony
The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics was held on February 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held indoors...
, among them an arrangement of the Olympic Hymn, which was performed in English and French.
Music directors
- Henry Plukker (1955–1962)
- Haymo Taeuber (1963–1968)
- José IturbiJosé IturbiJosé Iturbi was a Spanish conductor, harpsichordist and pianist. He appeared in several Hollywood films of the 1940s, notably playing himself in the 1943 musical, Thousands Cheer and in the 1945 film, Anchors Aweigh...
(1968–1969) - Maurice Handford (1970–1975)
- Arpad Joo (1977–1984)
- Mario BernardiMario BernardiMario Bernardi, is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He has conducted 75 different operas and over 450 other works with the National Arts Centre Orchestra.-Early years:...
(1984–1995) - Hans GrafHans GrafHans Graf is an Austrian conductor.As a child, Graf learned the violin and the piano. He studied at the Musikhochschule in Graz, Austria, and graduated with diplomas in piano and conducting. He also participated in conducting master classes with Franco Ferrara, Sergiu Celibidache and Arvīds Jansons...
(1995–2003) - Roberto Minczuk (2006–present)
Recordings
The orchestra has made over 10 recordings for CBC Records, including the following works:- Franz Liszt Piano Concertos (Janina Fialkowska, Piano)
- Cello Concerti of Elgar & Saint-Saëns (Shauna Rolston, Cello)
- Mozart – 12 Overtures (Mario Bernardi, Conductor)
- Mendelssohn – Symphonies 1 & 5 (Mario Bernardi, Conductor)
- Schumann – Symphonies No. 1, 2, 3 & 4 (Mario Bernardi, Conductor)
- Mahler - Symphony No. 1 (Hans Graf, Music Director)