| On Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Symphony_Orchestra |
| Alternative Spellings | NSO |
| Creation | 1931 |
| Participants |
Leonard Slatkin
- Conductor
from 1996
to 2008
Iván Fischer - Conductor from 2008 to 2010 Christoph Eschenbach - Conductor from 2010 Antal Doráti - Conductor from 1970 to 1977 |
| City | Washington, DC, United States |
| Country | United States of America |
The National Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1931, is an American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. Its principal performing venue is the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
For the first period of its history, the NSO performed in Constitution Hall. During the tenure of the first music director, Hans Kindler, the musicians received a salary of $40.00 per week, for three rehearsals and one concert, for five months of the year. The first female member of the NSO was a harpist, Sylvia Meyer, who joined in 1933.
Kindler and the NSO made several 78-rpm recordings for RCA Victor. One of the more unusual RCA recordings with the orchestra was of the complete ballet music from the opera King Henry VIII by Camille Saint-Saëns.
In 1986, the NSO became the artistic affiliate of the Kennedy Center, where it has presented a concert season annually since the Center opened in 1971.
The NSO regularly participates in events of national and international importance, including performances for ceremonial state affairs, presidential inaugurations and official holiday celebrations.
The NSO itself numbers 100 musicians, presenting a 52-week season of approximately 175 concerts each year. These include classical subscription series, pops concerts, and one of the country’s most extensive educational programs.
Through the John and June Hechinger Commissioning Fund for New Orchestral Works, the NSO has commissioned more than 50 works, including cycles of fanfares and encores. During his tenure, Slatkin founded the National Conducting Institute in 2000.
In November 2004, the orchestra announced the conclusion of Slatkin's NSO directorship in 2008. With the 2006–2007 season, Iván Fischer became the principal guest conductor of the orchestra. On 13 April 2007, the orchestra announced the appointment of Fischer as the orchestra's principal conductor as of the 2008–2009 season.
On September 25, 2008, the orchestra announced the appointment of Christoph Eschenbach as the orchestra's sixth music director, effective with the 2010–11 season. In 2011, Gianandrea Noseda first guest-conducted the NSO, and returned in November 2015 for an additional guest engagement. In January 2016, the NSO announced the appointment Noseda as its next music director.
Wikipedia