Vienna Symphony facts for kids
The Vienna Symphony (called Wiener Symphoniker in German) is a famous orchestra located in Vienna, Austria. An orchestra is a large group of musicians who play many different instruments together.
Contents
A Musical Journey: The Vienna Symphony's History
Early Days and New Homes
The orchestra started in 1900. A conductor named Ferdinand Löwe created it. Back then, it was known as the Wiener Concertverein, which means Vienna Concert Society. In 1913, the orchestra moved into the Konzerthaus, Vienna. This is a famous concert hall in Vienna. Later, in 1919, they joined with another group called the Tonkünstler Orchestra. In 1933, the orchestra finally got its current name: the Vienna Symphony.
Challenges During World War II
During World War II, the orchestra faced difficult times. The Nazis forced them to become part of the German Culture Orchestras. They were used to spread propaganda, which is information used to promote a political cause. The orchestra stopped playing in 1944 because of the war.
Rebuilding and Global Tours
After the war ended, the Vienna Symphony played its first concert on September 16, 1945. They performed a piece by Gustav Mahler called Symphony No. 3. Their conductor, Josef Krips, helped them quickly become a great orchestra again. From 1946, the famous conductor Herbert von Karajan often led them. He took the orchestra on tours across Europe and North America. In 1959, the Vienna Symphony even performed for Pope John XXIII in Vatican City.
Later, when Wolfgang Sawallisch became their conductor, he also took them on tours. They traveled to the United States and Japan. Today, Fabio Luisi is the main conductor for the Vienna Symphony.
Leading the Orchestra: Chief Conductors
A chief conductor is the main musical leader of an orchestra. They guide the musicians during performances and rehearsals. Here are some of the important chief conductors of the Vienna Symphony:
- 1900-1925 Ferdinand Löwe
- 1920s-1930s Wilhelm Furtwängler
- 1933-1940s Oswald Kabasta
- 1946-1948 Hans Swarowsky
- 1948-1960 Herbert von Karajan
- 1960-1970 Wolfgang Sawallisch
- 1970-1973 Josef Krips (artistic advisor)
- 1973-1976 Carlo Maria Giulini
- 1980-1982 Gennady Rozhdestvensky
- 1986-1991 Georges Prêtre (principal guest conductor)
- 1991-1996 Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos
- 1997-2005 Vladimir Fedoseyev
- 2005-present Fabio Luisi
Related Pages
See also
In Spanish: Orquesta Sinfónica de Viena para niños
