Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester (GMJO) |
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| Youth orchestra | |
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| Founded | 1986 |
| Location | Vienna |
| Principal conductor | Claudio Abbado |
The Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (GMJO) is a special group of young musicians. It's a youth orchestra based in Vienna, Austria. A famous conductor named Claudio Abbado started it in 1986. The orchestra is named after Gustav Mahler, a well-known composer. GMJO is also part of the European Federation of National Youth Orchestras, which connects youth orchestras across Europe.
Contents
History of the Orchestra
A European Orchestra for Young Musicians
In 1992, the GMJO made history. It became the first youth orchestra in Europe to welcome young musicians from countries like Hungary and Czechoslovakia. These countries were once part of the Eastern Bloc. The orchestra held open auditions there, giving more young people a chance to join.
How Musicians Join GMJO
Every year, a special group of judges picks musicians for the orchestra. These judges are chosen by Claudio Abbado himself. They hold auditions in over twenty-five cities across Europe. Today, more than 100 musicians play in the orchestra. They come from many different countries. Some of these include Germany, Austria, France, Hungary, Russia, Spain, Great Britain, Romania, and Switzerland. The judges are also professional musicians. They help the orchestra with its music during practice times.
Playing Big Music Pieces
The GMJO is a very large orchestra. For example, on their Easter Tour in 2005, more than 130 musicians traveled together. This many musicians can play very big and complex pieces of music. One such piece is Richard Strauss' Eine Alpensinfonie. This symphony needs a huge number of instruments to be played fully.
Tours and Famous Performances
The GMJO plays many different kinds of music. They perform classical pieces and also newer, modern works. They especially focus on large symphonies from the Romantic period. The orchestra is known for its high quality and success around the world. Because of this, many famous conductors and soloists want to perform with them.
In 2005, the GMJO had a very successful Easter Tour. During this tour, they recorded Eine Alpensinfonie by Richard Strauss. This recording was led by conductor Franz Welser-Möst. The orchestra has also performed at very famous music events. These include the Lucerne Festival, the Salzburg Festival, the Salzburg Easter Festival, and the Proms in London. Many musicians who used to play in the GMJO now play in top orchestras across Europe. Some even hold leading positions in those orchestras.
Famous Conductors Who Worked with GMJO
Many well-known conductors have worked with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. Some of these include Claudio Abbado, Mariss Jansons, Pierre Boulez, and Bernard Haitink.
Recordings by GMJO
The Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra has made several recordings of their performances. These recordings let people listen to their music even after a concert. Here are some of their recordings:
- Iannis Xenakis: Keqrops, conducted by Claudio Abbado, Deutsche Grammophon 1997.
- Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 8, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, EMI 2002.
- Arnold Schoenberg: Pelleas und Melisande, Richard Wagner: Prelude to Act 1 of Tristan und Isolde, conducted by Pierre Boulez, Deutsche Grammophon 2003 (published 2012).
- Richard Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, EMI 2005.
- Anton Bruckner: Symphony No. 9, conducted by Herbert Blomstedt, Dirigent DIR-684, 2010.
See also
In Spanish: Joven Orquesta Gustav Mahler para niños
- List of youth orchestras
