Minnesota Orchestra

The Minnesota Orchestra, one of the leading American orchestras, has often been referred to as the "orchestra on wheels" because of its extensive touring. Its first tour occurred in the spring of 1907, a mere three and a half years after its formation. National tours soon led to world tours. […]

The Minnesota Orchestra was known as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra throughout much of its existence. The Minnesota Orchestra […] has its roots in local, amateur choral and instrumental ensembles. Emil Oberhoffer, director of the Philharmonic Club ensemble, sought the funds to found a permanent orchestra. With a group of the Danz Orchestra to form the core of the orchestra, his efforts came to fruition with the inaugural performance of the 60-member Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra on November 5, 1903.

The first director, Emil Oberhoffer, directed the orchestra until 1922. During his 19-year tenure, he oversaw the development of the orchestra into a nationally acclaimed and well-traveled ensemble. Upon Oberhoffer's retirement, Henri Verbrugghen was selected to lead the orchestra. Under his direction, the orchestra performed its first radio broadcast in 1923, and made their first recordings. […] Shortly after completing the 1930-1931 season, Verbrugghen was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage.

Verbrugghen's successor was Eugene Ormandy. His talent and drive […] is credited with seeing the orchestra successfully through America's great depression. Ormandy stayed with the orchestra only a few short years. He left in 1936 and was replaced by Dmitri Mitropoulos.

Under Mitropoulos the orchestra furthered its exploration of progressive music, particularly that of Schoenberg, Berg, and Krenek. But they also featured such Romantics as Schumann andMendelssohn. Although Mitropoulos was criticized for his rather unorthodox programming, […] he succeeded in earning a worldwide recognition for the orchestra.

Mitropoulos left the orchestra in 1949 and was replaced by Antal Dorati. During his 11 years with the orchestra, Dorati programmed performances with local choruses, directed their first television appearances, and, in 1957, led them on a world tour to Europe, the Middle East, and India […].

Stanislaw Skrowaczewski assumed the role of director when Dorati left in 1960. Under Skrowaczewski, the orchestra expanded both its membership and its season […]. […] The orchestra was rewarded twice with the ASCAP award for programming of contemporary music.

Neville Marriner became the seventh director in 1979. Marriner led the orchestra through extensive recordings and, in 1980, began national weekly radio broadcasts. […] AllMusic