Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra

Founded	1952
Location	Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Concert hall	Francis Winspear Centre for Music
Principal conductor	William Eddins
Website	www.edmontonsymphony.com

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to country. Currently in its 65th season, the orchestra is composed of 56 professional musicians who perform 42 weeks per season and who play an active role in the musical life of Edmonton and elsewhere as performers, teachers and recording artists. The ESO also performs as the orchestra for Edmonton Opera and Alberta Ballet productions, and its recordings are regularly heard across Canada on CBC Radio 2.

History

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Centre

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was initially formed as Edmonton's community orchestra and gave its first concert on November 14, 1920. The orchestra suspended operations in 1932, but was revived on October 31, 1952, when it was incorporated as a registered not-for-profit organization (the Edmonton Symphony Society), and gave its first performance on November 30, 1952. It made the transition to a fully professional orchestra in 1971. In 1973, it was decided to restrict the orchestra to "classical" size. Today the ESO's budget is over $10 million, and its players are the highest paid Canadian orchestral musicians west of Toronto.

Music Directors, Conductors, Concertmasters, and current artistic leadership

William Eddins

Music and Artistic Directors

Alexander Prior 2017-present (Chief Conductor Designate)
William Eddins 2005-2017
Grzegorz Nowak 1994-2002
Uri Mayer 1981-1994 (named Conductor Laureate in 1994)
Pierre Hétu 1973-1979 (Artistic Director), 1979-1980 (Principal Guest Conductor)
Lawrence Leonard 1968-1973
Brian Priestman 1964-1968
Lee Hepner 1952-1960

Conductors

Lucas Waldin 2009-2012 (Resident Conductor)
Petar Dundjerski 2006-2008 (Assistant Conductor in Residence)
Kazuyoshi Akiyama 2004-2005 (Principal Guest Conductor)
Franz-Paul Decker 2003-2004 (Principal Guest Conductor)
David Hoyt 1985-2002 (Resident Guest Conductor, Resident Conductor), 2002-2003 (Artistic Director)
Peter Nero 1984-1985 (Pops Music Director)
Daniel Swift 1983-1984 (Assistant Conductor)
Yuval Zaliouk 1980-1981 (Interim Principal Conductor)
Mitch Miller 1979-1982 (Principal Guest Conductor for Pops)
Peter McCoppin 1978-1980 (Assistant Conductor)
John Barnum 1975-1977 (Assistant Conductor)
Tom Rolston 1960-1964 (Associate Conductor)

Concertmasters

Robert Uchida 2013-present
Eric Buchmann (Interim) 2010-2013
Martin Riseley 1994-2010
Eric Buchmann, Richard Caldwell, Virginie Gagné, Broderyk Olson (Interim, in rotation) 2009-2010
John Lowry 2002-2003 (Interim)
James Keene 1972-1994
Charles (Karol) Dobiáš 1970-1972
Marguerite Marzantowicz 1960-1964 (Interim), 1964–1970
Tom Rolston 1958-1964
Walter Holowach 1957-1958 (Interim)
Alexander Nicol 1952-1957

Current artistic leadership

William Eddins was appointed Music Director in January 2005 and made his debut as Music Director in June of that year. Prior to his appointment in Edmonton he spent ten years working with Daniel Barenboim, most recently as Resident Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Performing venue

The Francis Winspear Centre for Music

In September 1997, the Edmonton Symphony Society and the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation successfully completed a two-decade, $45 million capital campaign, and the ESO moved from the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium (the orchestra's principal performing venue since 1957) into its new concert hall, the acoustically superb, 1716 seat Francis Winspear Centre for Music. The inaugural gala, at which the ESO performed Mahler's Symphony of a Thousand with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, took place on September 13, 1997.

Community commitment, programming and tours, special concerts

Community commitment The ESO is committed to serving its entire community, through eclectic programming choices and innovative education and outreach activities. Each season, almost 30,000 students experience the orchestra's music at the Winspear Centre. The Young Composers Project, with local composers as mentors, allows select high school students to compose orchestral works and hear them in performance. The orchestra's annual outdoor Symphony Under the Sky Festival is a popular destination for Edmontonians on Labour Day weekend.

Programming and tours

"Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra"

The ESO's history and the varied nature of its programming reflect its imaginative commitment to its community.

In 1972, the Procol Harum album Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (right) and its hit single Conquistador became the first orchestral recording to achieve international platinum sales.
In 1985, the ESO premiered Malcolm Forsyth's Atayoskewin at the opening of Shell Canada's Scotford Refinery.
In 1980, to celebrate Alberta's 75th anniversary, the orchestra toured the province.
In 1986, the ESO performed at Vancouver's Expo 86.
In 1992, a televised ESO performance with k.d. lang conducted by Tommy Banks received a Gemini Award for Best Television Variety Performance.
In 1994, the orchestra undertook a five-city tour (the "Northern Lights Tour") of northern Alberta, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories.
In 1996, the ESO became the first Canadian orchestra to play on a First Nations Reserve.
On May 8, 2012, the ESO made its Carnegie Hall debut, its first performance outside of Canada.

Special concerts

Special ESO concerts drawing sold-out houses have featured, among others, k.d. lang in 1985, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider in 1989, The Arrogant Worms in 2002, Corb Lund in 2005, Paul Brandt in 2006, Video Games Live in 2007, Nikki Yanofsky in 2008, reunion concerts with Procol Harum in 1992 and 2010, Ben Folds in 2012 and 2014, and Ian Tyson on the 100th anniversary of the Province of Alberta on September 1, 2005. In March 2011, the ESO presented a memorable concert devoted exclusively to the music of Frank Zappa, and in December 2005, the orchestra returned to the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium to present two sold-out Christmas concerts with Christian singer/pianist Michael W. Smith. The orchestra continues this tradition of working with musicians from a variety of musical genres. In December 2012, the orchestra performed two Christmas concerts with the Barenaked Ladies.

Composers in residence

John McPherson was appointed the orchestra's fourth Composer in Residence in August 2016.

Robert Rival, the orchestra's third Composer in Residence (2011-2014) wrote six major works for the orchestra during his residency:

Delights & Discords (2014)
Northwest Passage Variations (2014)
Symphony No. 2 "Water" (2013)
Achilles and Scamander (2012)
Lullaby (2012)
Whirlwind (2012)

Allan Gilliland

Allan Gilliland, the ESO's second Composer in Residence (2000–2004) composed nine major works for the orchestra, as well as a colorful new orchestration of Canada's national anthem. Before his residency, Gilliland had been commissioned to write two works for the ESO. Following his residency, he was commissioned to write two jazz-flavoured works: a rhapsody for piano and orchestra, and a suite for trumpet and orchestra.

Dreaming of the Masters III (2010) (funded by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts)
Dreaming of the Masters II (Rhapsody GEB) (2008) (co-commission with CBC)
Above the Fold (2004)
Calixa Lavallée O Canada (new orchestration) (2004)
Dreaming of the Masters I (2003)
Gaol's Ruadh Ròs – A Celtic Concerto for Two Harps (2003)
Always Be True (2002)
Violin Concerto (2002)
A Wild Symphonic Ride (2002)
Loch na Beiste (2001)
On the Shoulders of Giants (2001)
Shadows and Light (2000)
Winspear Fanfare (1997)
Trumpet Concerto (1994)

John Estacio

John Estacio was the ESO's first Composer in Residence (1992–1999). He also produced nine major works for the orchestra during his residency:

The Twins and the Monster (2001)
The Brass Ring (1999)
Frenergy (1998)
Concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello (1997)
Wondrous Light (1997)
Borealis (1997)
Victims of Us All (1996)
A Farmer's Symphony (1994)
Alegria (1994)

Canadian commissions

Composers Allan Gilliland, Malcolm Forsyth, Allan Gordon Bell, John Estacio, and Jeffrey McCune following the Edmonton Symphony's performance of their music in April 2005

The ESO has a long tradition of commissioning and performing works by Canadian – and particularly Albertan – composers. On April 29, 2005 the ESO presented a highly acclaimed concert of music by five contemporary Alberta composers – Allan Gordon Bell, John Estacio, Malcolm Forsyth, Allan Gilliland and Jeffrey McCune – in Southam Hall at Ottawa's National Arts Centre as part of the Alberta Scene festival. In May 2012, the ESO performed the US premieres of music by its first three Composers in Residence at Carnegie Hall's second annual Spring for Music festival.

Works commissioned by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra include:

Louis Applebaum Concertante / Prelude / Incantation / Sinfonia / Evocations for Two Pianos and Orchestra
Violet Archer Prelude - incantation / Sinfonia
Allan Gordon Bell Symphonies of Hidden Fire
Patrick Cardy Trobadores
George Fiala Overtura Buffa
Malcolm Forsyth Symphony No. 2 '... A Host of Nomads...' / Requiem for the Victims in a Wartorn World / Siyajabula! We Rejoice! / A Ballad of Canada
Allan Gilliland Dreaming of the Masters II
Stewart Grant Symphony ("Et in Terra…")
Ronald Hannah Suite of orchestral dances: the common air that bathes the globe
Jacques Hétu Concerto for Organ
Yuri Laniuk Palimpsesty
Raymond Luedeke Tales of the Netsilik
Rod McKuen The Ballad of Distances - Symphonic Suite, Opus 40
François Morel Neumes d'espace et reliefs
Jeffrey McCune Aquamarine / Dance Suite / Overture Sauvage
John McPherson Walk in Beauty
Kelly-Marie Murphy Utterances
Cha Ka Nin Memento Mori
Randolph Peters WildFire
Laurie Radford a tangle in the throat
Manus Sasonkin Musica post prandia
Robert Turner Shades of Autumn

Commercial discography and videography

Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

(Procol Harum, Da Camera Singers, Lawrence Leonard conductor, 1972)

Conquistador / Whaling Stories / A Salty Dog / All This and More / In Held 'Twas In I / Luskus Delph

Music by Haydn, Debussy, Wirén

(Boris Brott ¹ and John Avison ² conductors, 1973)

Haydn Symphony No. 99 ¹ / Debussy Petit suite: En bateau ² / Wirén March ²

McKuen The Ballad Of Distances: Symphonic Suite, Opus 40

(Tommy Banks conductor, 1973)

Scarlet and Gold / L'Escarlet et L'Or - Alberta R.C.M.P. Century Celebrations, 1874-1974

(Tommy Banks conductor, 1974)

Dere Overture / Rebellion / Tribute to the R.C.M.P.

Music by Wolf, Purcell, Adaskin, Warlock

(Pierre Hétu conductor, 1975)

Wolf Italian Serenade / Purcell The Married Beau Suite (Arr. Holst) / Adaskin Diversion for orchestra (an entertainment) / Warlock Six Italian Dances

Music by Ibert, Françaix, Rameau

(Pierre Hétu conductor, 1976)

Ibert Suite symphonique: "Paris" / Françaix Sérénade / Rameau Les fêtes d'Hébé

Orchestral Suites of the British Isles

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1983)

Vaughan Williams English Folk Song Suite / Warlock Capriol Suite / Harty A John Field Suite

Great Tenor Arias

(Ermanno Mauro tenor, Uri Mayer conductor, 1984)

Bizet "La fleur que tu m’avais jetée" (Carmen) / Massenet "O Souverain, ô juge, ô père!" (Le Cid) / Puccini "Che gelida manina" (La bohème) / Leoncavallo "Recitar!...Vesti la giubba" (Pagliacci) / Verdi "Niun mi tema" (Otello) / Gounod "Ah! lêve-toi, soleil" (Roméo et Juliette) / Massenet "Pourquoi me réveiller?" (Werther) / Puccini "E lucevan le stelle" (Tosca) / Puccini "Nessun dorma" (Turandot) / Giordano "Un dì all'azzuro spazio", also known as "L'improvviso" (Andrea Chénier) / Verdi "Ma se m'è forza perderti" (Un ballo in maschera) / Verdi "Ah si, ben mio...Di quella pira" (Il trovatore)

Great Verdi Arias

(Louis Quilico baritone, Uri Mayer conductor, 1984)

"E sogno o realtà?" (Falstaff) / "Morir! tremenda cosa...Urna fatale de mio destino" (La forza del destino) / "Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" (Rigoletto) / "Vanne! la tua meta già vedo...Credo in un Dio crude!" Otello) / "Perfidi!...Pietà, rispetto, amore" (Macbeth) / "Tutto è deserto...Il Balen del suo soriso" (Il trovatore) / "Di Provenza il mar, il suol" (La traviata) / "Alzati! là tuo figlio...Eri tu che macchiavi quell’anima" (Un ballo in maschera)

Music by Forsyth and Freedman

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1985)

Freedman Oiseaux exotiques / Forsyth Atayoskewin (Juno Award: Best Classical Composition)

Canadian and Russian Overtures

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1986)

Forsyth Jubilee Overture / Ridout Fall Fair / Morawetz Overture to a Fairy Tale / Shostakovich Festive Overture, Opus 96 / Borodin Prince Igor: Overture / Kabalevsky Colas Breugnon: Overture / Glinka Russlan and Ludmilla: Overture

Fiala The Kurelek Suite

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1987)

Harp Concertos

(Gianetta Baril harp, Uri Mayer conductor, 1987)

Ginastera Harp Concerto, Opus 25 / Morawetz Concerto for Harp and Chamber Orchestra (Juno Award: Best Classical Composition)

Great Orchestral Marches

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1988)

Fučík Entrance of the Gladiators / Alford Colonel Bogey / Sousa Stars and Stripes Forever / Elgar Pomp & Circumstance No. 4 / Farnon State Occasion / Papineau-Couture Marche de Guillaument / Beethoven Turkish March (from The Ruins of Athens) / Schubert Marche Militaire / Johann Strauss I Radetzky March / Healey Willan Centennial March / Delibes Cortège de Bacchus / Tchaikovsky Jurisprudence March / Michael Conway Baker March (Evocations, Movement II) / Adaskin March No. 2 / Halvorsen Triumphal Entry of the Boyars / Grieg "March of the Dwarfs" (from Lyric Suite / Herbert March of the Toys (from Babes in Toyland) / Rodgers March of the Siamese Children (from The King & I) / John Williams The Imperial March (from The Empire Strikes Back)

Works for Cello and Orchestra

(Shauna Rolston cello, Uri Mayer conductor, 1989)

Morawetz Memorial to Martin Luther King / Bruch Kol Nidrei, Opus 47 / Fauré Élégie for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 24 / Dvořák Silent Woods, Opus 68 No. 5 / Bliss Concerto for Cello and Orchestra

The Symphony Sessions

(Tom Cochrane, Red Rider, George Blondheim conductor, 1989)

Light in the Tunnel / Human Race / Can’t Turn Back / Napoleon Sheds His Skin / White Hot / Big League / Calling America / Avenue "A" / Bird on a Wire / Boy Inside the Man / Lunatic Fringe / Good Times / The Next Life

Music by Britten and Willan

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1993)

Britten Canadian Carnival, Opus 19 / Britten Peter Grimes: Four Sea Interludes, Opus 33a / Willan Symphony No. 2 in C minor

Russian Sketches

(Uri Mayer conductor, 1997)

Ippolitov-Ivanov Caucasian Sketches, Opus 10 / Tchaikovsky Eugene Onegin, Opus 24: Polonaise / Tchaikovsky The Sleeping Beauty, Opus 66: Waltz / Shostakovich The Age of Gold: Suite, Opus 22a: Polka / Borodin In the Steppes of Central Asia / Rimsky-Korsakov The Golden Cockerel: Suite

Electra Rising: Music of Malcolm Forsyth

(William Street saxophone, Amanda Forsyth cello, Grzegorz Nowak conductor, 1998)

Valley of a Thousand Hills / Tre Vie / Electra Rising (Juno Award: Best Classical Composition)

Music by Smetana and Janáček

(Grzegorz Nowak conductor, 1999)

Smetana Má vlast (original 1875 version) / Janáček Moravian Dances

P.J. Perry and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra

(P.J. Perry, saxophone, David Hoyt conductor, 1999)

Django / Charlie Parker Medley / Bossa Nova Medley / They Kept Bach's Head Alive / Ballad Medley / Hand In Hand / Harlem Nocturne / The Old Castle / Strike Up The Band

Semi-Conducted (CD) / Three Worms and an Orchestra (DVD)

(The Arrogant Worms, David Hoyt conductor, 2003)

Overture / Big Fat Road Manager / Canada's Really Big / Rocks and Trees / Log In to You / I am Cow / Last Saskatchewan Pirate / Gaelic Song / Me Like Hockey / Carrot Juice is Murder / Dangerous / Billy the Theme Park Shark / Celine Dion / We are the Beaver

Frenergy: The Music of John Estacio

(Mario Bernardi conductor, 2004)

Frenergy / A Farmer's Symphony / Bootlegger's Tarantella / Such Sweet Sorrow / Solaris / Borealis / Wondrous Light

Steve Bell in concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (DVD)

(Steve Bell, vocalist, Rei Hotoda conductor, 2008)

Here By the Water / Deep Calls to Deep / Waiting for Aidan / Burning Ember / Lord of the Starfields / Even So / Wellspring / Holy Lord

Carl Czerny - A Rediscovered Genius

(Jolaine Kerley soprano, Joy-Anne Murphy alto, Benjamin Butterfield tenor, Paul Grindlay bass, André Moisan clarinet, Grzegorz Nowak ¹ and Leonard Ratzlaff ² conductors, 2011; recorded in 2002)

Grand Overture in C minor, Opus 142 ¹ / Overture in E major ² / Offertorium: "Benedicat nos Deus", Opus 737 ²

Logos Futura

(Antonio Peruch accordion, Grzegorz Nowak conductor, 2011; recorded in 2001)

Forsyth Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra

A Concert for New York

(Angela Cheng piano, Denise Djokic cello, Juliette Kang violin, Jens Lindemann trumpet, William Eddins conductor, 2013)

Robert Rival Lullaby / John Estacio Triple Concerto / Allan Gilliland Dreaming of the Masters III / Martinů Symphony No. 1 / Bernstein "Mambo" (from Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story")

References

Henighan, Tom (2000). The Maclean's Companion to Canadian Arts and Culture. Raincoast Books. ISBN 1-55192-298-3.
"Resonances, Reminiscences & Repercussions: The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at Fifty" by Jerry Ozipko in the The Alberta New Music and Arts Review, pp 100-115, Vol. III/IV, No. 4/5, Fall 1999/Fall 2002.