Alternative Spellings OSESP, São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra
Creation 1954
Participants Marin Alsop - Conductor from 2012 to 2019
João de Sousa Lima - Conductor from 1954 to 1964
Bruno Roccela - Conductor from 1964 to 1972
Eleazar de Carvalho - Conductor from 1972 to 1996
John Neschling - Conductor from 1997 to 2009
Yan Pascal Tortelier - Conductor from 2009 to 2011
Thierry Fischer - Conductor from 2020
City São Paulo - State of São Paulo, Brazil
Country Brazil

Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo is a symphony orchestra based in São Paulo, Brazil. With more than 200 concerts during its annual season, it is one of the largest and best known orchestras in South America.

With broad-based programming, juxtaposing the great works of international classical music with world premieres and pieces by Brazilian composers, OSESP brings to Brazil some of the major current soloists and conductors.

Over the last years, OSESP has toured Brazil, Latin America, the United States and Europe.

Founded by João de Sousa Lima in 1954, OSESP alternated between periods of success and great difficulty, including a hiatus in its activities. After Italian conductor Bruno Roccela’s stay the group was under the command of Eleazar de Carvalho for 24 years, until his death in 1996. Under the direction of John Neschling from 1997 to 2008, the orchestra went through major transformations which positioned them as a reference for quality and excellence in the fields of art, culture, and education in Brazil.

With the support of the State Government, the Eleazar de Carvalho Musical Documentation Center was founded, and Osesp launched an orchestral subscription series, various educational programs and volunteer groups, a publisher for scores called “Criadores do Brasil,” and a Music Academy. The more than 40 CDs that have been recorded to date by OSESP include all the symphonies of Camargo Guarnieri, Francisco Braga’s opera Jupyra, works by Francisco Mignone and Cláudio Santoro, and Villa-Lobos's complete Bachianas Brasileiras and Chôros.

In January 2009 it was announced that Neschling's contract with OSESP was rescinded with immediate effect by the orchestra's governing board. The French conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier was named Chief Conductor for 2010 and 2011, after one year as principal guest. From January 2010, music scholar and writer Arthur Nestrovski was named Artistic Director, in charge of programming, educational activities, publications and outreach programs. In February, 2011 it was announced that Marin Alsop would become Chief Conductor with a five-year contract beginning in 2012. Tortelier will remain as Principal Guest Conductor. Celso Antunes became the Associate Conductor (2012–16). Wikipedia