Montreal Symphony Orchestra facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra
Native name	Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Former name	Les Concerts Symphoniques
Founded	1935 (1935)
Location	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Concert hall	Montreal Symphony House
Music director	Rafael Payare

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra is a famous Canadian symphony orchestra from Montreal, Quebec. In French, it is called the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, or OSM for short. An orchestra is a large group of musicians who play instruments like violins, trumpets, and drums together.

The orchestra performs its concerts at a special concert hall called the Montreal Symphony House. This beautiful building is part of a larger arts complex known as the Place des Arts.

History of the Orchestra

Early Years

Before the OSM we know today, Montreal had other orchestras. One started in 1897 and another in 1930, but they didn't last. The current orchestra began in 1934, when a man named Wilfrid Pelletier created a group called Les Concerts Symphoniques.

Their very first concert was on January 14, 1935. The group officially changed its name to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in 1954. In the 1960s, a generous supporter named John Wilson McConnell bought a very rare and valuable violin, the 1727 Laub-Petschnikoff Stradivarius, for the orchestra's lead violinist.

Growing and Touring

The Montreal Symphony Orchestra playing an outdoor concert for the community in 2008.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the orchestra started to travel and make recordings. This was during the time when Zubin Mehta and Franz-Paul Decker were the conductors, also known as music directors.

A later conductor, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, had a disagreement with the orchestra and resigned in 1976. When he returned to conduct years later, he apologized for his past actions.

The Dutoit Era

In 1977, Charles Dutoit became the music director. He and the OSM became famous around the world. They made a 20-year deal with the record company Decca/London and recorded many albums. They were especially known for playing music by French composers like Maurice Ravel.

The orchestra won many awards for its recordings, including two Grammy awards. One was in 1996 for the opera Les Troyens by Hector Berlioz, and another was in 2000 for piano concertos by Sergei Prokofiev and Béla Bartók.

In 2002, Dutoit suddenly left the orchestra after a disagreement with the musicians. He did not return to conduct the OSM again until 2016.

A New Century and New Sounds

The orchestra on stage after a concert. You can see the giant octobass on the far right!

After Dutoit left, Kent Nagano became the new music director in 2006. Under his leadership, the OSM did something amazing: it got an octobass. This is a huge string instrument, like a giant double bass, and the OSM is the only orchestra in the world to have one that works!

In 2018, the orchestra went on a special tour to northern Quebec. They performed an opera called Chaakapesh: The Trickster's Quest, which was based on Indigenous stories. This tour was so important that it was made into a documentary film.

Nagano finished his time as music director in 2020.

The Orchestra Today

In 2021, the OSM announced its current music director, Rafael Payare. He officially started in the 2022–2023 season.

The orchestra continues to try new things. In 2023, it worked with a popular Quebec rock band, Les Cowboys Fringants, to create a live album. The album was a huge success and won a Juno Award, which is like a Canadian Grammy.

Music Directors and Leaders

The music director is the main conductor who leads the orchestra. The OSM has had many talented leaders over the years.

Conductors Emeriti

A "Conductor Emeritus" is a special title given to past conductors to honor their work with the orchestra.

• Wilfrid Pelletier
• Zubin Mehta
• Kent Nagano (since 2021)

See also

In Spanish: Orquesta Sinfónica de Montreal para niños

• St. Lawrence Choir
• John Zirbel