SEATTLE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The Seattle Symphony, under the direction of Music Director Gerard Schwarz, was founded in 1903, and is the largest and one of the oldest cultural institutions in the Pacific Northwest. Recognized for its daring programming and tradition of performing music by 20th century composers, the Symphony is one of the world’s most recorded orchestras, represented on more than 80 compact discs. From September through July, the Seattle Symphony is heard live by more than 300,000 people annually in a schedule that includes 18 weeks of classical subscription Masterpiece concerts and a broad spectrum of other series including Visiting Orchestras, Basically Baroque, Mainly Mozart, Light Classics, Seattle Pops, Discover Music!, Tiny Tots, Distinguished Artists, and Music of our Time.

After almost a century of searching for a permanent concert hall, the Seattle Symphony now performs in its new home, Benaroya Hall, a dedicated concert hall designed by LMN Architects of Seattle and world-renowed acoustical consultant, Dr. Cyril Harris. The new facility—which opened triumphantly on September 12, 1998—was created specifically for concert music, and its stunning acoustics have received virtually unanimous praise from local, national and international media. A true public/private venture, more than half of the $118.1 million in construction costs were borne by the private sector.

The Seattle Symphony was established on December 29, 1903, when violinist/conductor Harry West assembled 24 musicians to perform in Christiansen Hall, site of the current Seattle Art Museum and directly across the street from Benaroya Hall. Music directors have included the noted American composer Henry Hadley (1909-11), John Spargur (1911-21), Basil Cameron (1932-38), Nikolai Sokoloff (1938-40)—the first music director of the Cleveland Orchestra, renowned British conductor Sir Thomas Beecham (1941-44) and Manuel Rosenthal (1949-51).

The progressive nature of Seattle and its Symphony came to the fore as early as 1921. Madame Davenport Engberg—the world’s first woman to conduct a symphony orchestra (in Bellingham, no less)—reorganized and expanded the ensemble to 90 mostly amateur players of both genders.

The most famous of all maestros in the following two decades was Sir Thomas Beecham, celebrated for his musical skills as well as for his ironic and at times naughty wit. Arriving in 1941 and staying but 2-1/2 seasons, his orchestra-building expertise and charismatic presence conferred upon the Seattle Symphony a significant boost in skill and reputation.

In 1954, Milton Katims, protégé of Arturo Toscanini and a memorable violist, began his 22-year tenure as Music Director. Katims expanded the Symphony’s education program through public school concerts, developed the “Little Symphony” to present chamber music, and by 1960 had introduced 75 works to the Seattle community. Under his guidance, the Symphony released a number of commercial LPs, gaining further national recognition.

Seattle Symphony musicians began their long association with Seattle Opera in 1973, serving as the orchestra for opera productions. From 1975-1984, Symphony musicians performed in the Opera’s internationally acclaimed annual presentations of Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. Since then, the Symphony has continued its fruitful collaboration with Seattle Opera.

For more information, please go to the Orchestra's website.

Photo courtesy of Yuen Lui Studio

Albums featuring this artist are available for download from ClassicsOnline.com
ADOLPHE: Ladino Songs of Love and Suffering / Mikhoels the Wise (excerpt)	8.559413
AITKEN: Aspen Concerto / Rameau Remembered / In Praise of Ockeghem	AR-0004-2
AVSHALOMOV / SILVER / MEYEROWITZ: Jewish Tone Poems	8.559426
BERLINSKI: From the World of My Father / Shofar Service / Symphonic Visions for Orchestra	8.559446
BRAHMS / SAINT-SAENS: Violin Concertos	AR-0003-2
CRESTON: Symphony No. 5 / Toccata / Partita	8.559153
DIAMOND: Ahava / Music for Prayer	8.559412
DIAMOND: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 4	8.559154
DIAMOND: Symphony No. 1 / Violin Concerto No. 2 / Enormous Room	8.559157
DIAMOND: Symphony No. 3 / Psalm / Kaddish	8.559155
DIAMOND: TOM Suite / Symphony No. 8 / This Sacred Ground	8.559156
EXPLORE AMERICA	8.559187
FOOTE, A.: Francesca da Rimini / 4 Character Pieces after the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam / Suite / Serenade (excerpts) (Seattle Symphony, Schwarz)	8.559365
FOSS: Elegy for Anne Frank / Song of Anguish / BEASER: The Heavenly Feast	8.559438
HANSON: Merry Mount	8.669012-13
HOVHANESS: Symphony No. 22 / Cello Concerto	8.559158
JEWISH OPERAS, Vol. 2	8.559450
JONES, S.: Symphony No. 3, "Palo Duro Canyon" / Tuba Concerto (Olka, Seattle Symphony, Schwarz)	8.559378
KLEZMER CONCERTOS AND ENCORES	8.559403
LAZAROF: Tableaux / Violin Concerto / Symphony No. 2	8.559159
PISTON: Incredible Flutist (The) / Fantasy for English Horn, Harp and Strings	8.559160
PISTON: Symphonies Nos. 2 and 6	8.559161
PISTON: Symphony No. 4 / Three New England Sketches	8.559162
PROKOFIEV: Violin Concertos Nos. 1 and 2	AR-0020-2
SCHUMAN, W.: Symphonies Nos. 3 and 5 / Judith	8.559317
SCHUMAN: Symphonies Nos. 4 and 9 / Circus Overture / Orchestra Song	8.559254
SCHUMAN: Symphonies Nos. 7 and 10	8.559255
SHENG, Bright: Phoenix (The) / Red Silk Dance / Tibetan Swing / H'un (Lacerations) (Sheng, Seattle Symphony, Schwarz)	8.559610
SHOSTAKOVICH: Execution of Stepan Razin (The) / October / 5 Fragments, Op. 42	8.557812
SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5 / The Golden Age Suite	AR-0037-2
SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 6	AR-0017-2
STOCK: Little Miracle (A) / Yizkor / Tekiah / Y'rusha	8.559422
STORY OF AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC (THE)	8.558164-65
TAYLOR, D.: Peter Ibbetson [Opera] (Griffey, Flanigan, Zeller, Seattle Symphony, Schwarz)	8.669016-17
TOCH: Cantata of the Bitter Herbs / Jephta	8.559417
WEISGALL: T'kiatot / Psalm of the Distant Dove / A Garden Eastward	8.559425