The Berlin Symphony Orchestra
The Berlin Symphony Orchestra (German: Symphonische Orchester Berlin) was formed in 1949 in West Berlin and is an independent orchestra from the Berliner Symphoniker.
The title was aurthorized by the municipality of Berlin (predecessor of the Senate of Berlin). In 1967, Carl A. Bünte was appointed chief conductor.
History[edit]
In 1966 the “Berlin Orchestra Association”came to life with the aim to unite Carl A. Bünte’s Berlin Symphony Orchestra(SOB) with the then German Symphony Orchestra of Hans Joachim Wunderlich; thus began the activities of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra (SOB) with its first concert on 1 September 1967. Carl A.Bünte ended his career as chief conductor on 31 August, 1973 at his own request, in order to continue his professional path in Japan, South America and various European countries. Within and outside of Berlin, the orchestra (SOB) performed approximately 60 concerts per year. Bünte’s successors were amongst others Theodore Bloomfield and Daniel Nazareth.[1]
The SOB - the orchestra’s current abbreviation - was initially created for audiences in Berlin. However, two monumental events must be mentioned at this point: one, in 1970 a South America tour together with the BerlinConcert Choir (conductor Fritz Weisse) took place, which was a triumph, and two, the SOB successfully participated in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich in the cultural framework (under the Bünte).
Hans JoachimWunderlich took up the employment offer withorchestra of Baden-Baden. In early 1973Dr. Becker was replaced by Franz Offermann, previously known from thePhilharmonia Hungarica in Marl, to be recast. Carl A. Bünte let his own contract expire in 1973 and in order to take on new challenges.
Soon enough the SOB became an established part of the Berlin music scene.
In addition, it became a coveted partner in supporting thegreat oratory choirs of Berlin and the regular "sound engineer exam" at the HochschulefürMusik(music conservatory in Berlin). Additionally, the SOB active participated in Berlin elementary schools, igniting the passion and fire for classical music amongst primary school aged children. Furthermore, it introduced the music series "Concerts for the whole family" on Sunday afternoons.
Since 1975 Theodore Bloomfield took over the position of chief conductor. Highly motivated and passionate, Bloomfieldaugmented the already high standard and quality reputation of the SOB–an artistic move that awarded him in 1977 the Berlin Critics Award. Numerous concert tours in Europe in the late 1970s and early 1980s allowed the Sob to be remembered as the main component of the Berlin music scene. In1975 Professor Helmut Roloff, pianist, lawyer and director of the State College of Music (HdK - today University of Musical
Arts), took over the chairmanship in the sponsoring association, which he will retain for the next 25 years.
Through his personality, coupled with a subtle sense of humour, ledhim to help theassociation andits orchestra overcome external resistances of and took over in times of vacancy the position of director.
Theodore Bloomfield saw himself forced into ending his contract in 1982. After numerous disagreements with the Senate about the enlargement of the SOB, which he was in favour of, Theodore Bloomfield left the SOB. He would be replaced by Daniel Nazareth, who was able to continue Bloomfield's artistic highandperform with the orchestra, as well as explored performance of the Late Romanticism.
General directors of the SOB included: Peter Pucks (since 1966 - ), Gerhard Becker (1966-1973), Franz Offermann (1973-1976), Gideon Rosengarten (1978-1982), and Norbert Thomas (1984-1988).
Highlight[edit]
- 1970, a South America tour with the BerlinConcert Choir
- 1972, the participation in the cultural program of the Olympic Games in Munich
- 1986,the concert at the “56th German Lawyer’s Day”, presidents and speech by then Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker at the ICC.
- Concerts and opera performances in the Philharmonic concert hall
- the implementation of the “VIIIBerlin Suzuki Method International Conference” In all rooms of the ICC with the founder of the school - Shin'ich Suzuki - andmany participants and former students from Germany and abroad -organized by the director Norbert Thomas - with one closing event with the SOB with 800 violin students and one concert with 16 pianists were playing on 16 grand pianos simultaneously.[2]
Discography[edit]
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 36. Bella Musica, Bühl 2013
- P. I. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 in c minor, Op. 17. Bella Musica, Bühl 2013
- H. Berlioz: Symphony Fantasy, Op. 14. Bella Musica, Bühl 2013
- L. v. Beethoven The Consecreation of the House (overture), Op. 124. Bella Musica, Bühl 2013
- F. Schubert Symphony No. 8 in C Major. Bella Musica, Bühl 2013
- R. Strauss Death and Transfiguration, Op. 24. Bella Musica, Bühl 2013
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 5 in c minor, Op. 67. Bella Musica, Bühl 2012, Mitschnitt 20. Mai 1956 Berlin, Dirigent C. A. Bünte
- J. Brahms Symphony No. 4 in e minor, Op. 98. Bella Musica, Bühl 2012, Mitschnitt 17. September 1961, Dirigent C. A. Bünte
- P. I. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in b minor. Bella Musica, Bühl 2011, Dirigent C. A. Bünte
- P. I. Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings, Op. 48. Bella Musica, Bühl 2011, Dirigent C. A. Bünte
- A. Bruckner Symphony No. 7 in E Major. Bella Musica, Bühl 2011, Dirigent C. A. Bünte
- P. I. Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 in e minor, Op. 64. Carl A. Bünte dirigiert das Berliner Symphonische Orchester in historischen Aufnahmen. Bella Musica, Bühl 2009; Aufnahme: Berlin, April 1960, live (enthält auch die Serenade Nr. 2 A-Dur op. 16 von Johannes Brahms)
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 6 "Pastor", Op. 68, C. A. Bünte dirigiert das Berliner Symphonische Orchester (enthält auch Richard Strauss: Don Juan) Aufnahme: Berlin 1959 (Berlin 1954) Bella Musica, Bühl 2009
- L. v. Beethoven Symphony No. 3 "Eroica", Op. 55, C. A. Bünte dirigiert das Berliner Symphonische Orchester, Aufnahme Berlin 1959 (Berlin 1961) Bella Musica 2007[3]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Geschichte". SOB (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2017-12-06.
- ↑ "Geschichte". SOB (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2017-12-06.
- ↑ "Katalog der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek". portal.dnb.de (in Deutsch). Retrieved 2017-12-06.
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