Hartford Symphony Orchestra
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra (HSO) is an American orchestra based in Hartford, Connecticut. Marking its 63rd season in 2006-2007, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra is Connecticut's premier musical organization and is widely recognized as one of America's leading regional orchestras.
History
The Hartford Symphony was founded in 1934 and formally established as the Symphony Society of Greater Hartford in 1936. Angelo Coniglione, Jacques Gordon, Leon Barzin, Moshe Paranov and George Heck were the Orchestra's first music directors. It was the the Viennese-born Fritz Mahler, the orchestra's sixth music director, who built the national reputation of the ensemble through an ambitious schedule of broadcasts and recordings. Under his leadership, the HSO began its Young People's Concerts and made several recordings for Vanguard. In 1964, Arthur Winograd, a founding member of the Juilliard String Quartet, became music director. Under Winograd, the Orchestra grew in artistic stature, culminating in a successful series of critically acclaimed performances at New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Under the artistic leadership of Michael Lankester from 1985-2000, the HSO received national recognition for its programming innovations, including the popular Classical Conversations and United Technologies Family Matinees, as well as a series of landmark theatrical productions.
After an extensive search involving nearly 300 applicants from around the world, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra named Edward Cumming as its ninth Music Director in 2001. During his first season Cumming introduced several exciting and successful initiatives including the popular United Technologies Rush Hour Classics and Classical Connections Series at The Bushnell's Belding Theater; the HSO's first Latino Music Celebration; and a long-awaited return to Bushnell Park with "Sounds of the City", a concert embracing the rich musical traditions of many of Hartford's diverse ethnic populations. Recognizing his commitment to performing the music of our time, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) presented Edward Cumming and the HSO with its 2003 Award for Adventurous Programming. The HSO also was one of three orchestras in North America to be honored with the 2004 MetLife Award for Excellence in Community Engagement, awarded by the American Symphony Orchestra League, and a 2003 award from the Hispanic Professional Network recognizing the HSO's "dedication to promote awareness of Hispanic arts and culture."
The HSO launched a major community engagement initiative designed to reach new audiences in 2000 with "I Have A Dream," the HSO's first concert celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In June 2004, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra was awarded the Governor's Arts Award "in recognition of remarkable artistic achievement and contributions to the arts in the state of Connecticut."
In 2001, 2003, and again in 2005, the popular Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli chose the HSO to accompany him on tour in a total of eleven cities across North America.
The Hartford Symphony presents more than 70 concerts annually – from The Masterworks Series, Hartford Symphony POPS!, and Family Matinees at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, to The Choral Collection, a series presented in collaboration with The Hartford Chorale and CONCORA, and the Talcott Mountain Music FestivalSM in Simsbury, Connecticut. Highly talented resident musicians have helped the Orchestra reach its highest artistic level ever.
Each season, the HSO plays to audiences numbering approximately 170,000 and reaches thousands statewide through its broadcast concerts on Connecticut Public Radio. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra's extensive array of Musical Pathways educational activities serves more than 70,000 individuals in Hartford and surrounding communities annually. The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is supported by approximately 8,000 subscribers and 3,000 donors. The organization has been greatly strengthened by an extensive level of communication and involvement with its musicians that has become a national model for orchestral governance. Now representing 15% of the Board of Directors and one-third of its Executive Committee, musicians also serve on all major Board committees.
Music Directors
- 1934–1936 Angelo Conigilione
- 1936–1938 Jacques Gordon
- 1938–1941 Leon Barzin
- 1947–1953 George Heck
- 1947–1953 Moshe Paranov
- 1953–1962 Fritz Mahler (no relation to Gustav Mahler)
- 1964–1985 Arthur Winograd
- 1985–2000 Michael Lankester
- 2002–date Edward Cumming
Concertmasters
- 1934–1939 George Heck
- 1948–1955 Rubin Segal
- 1955–1960 Gerald Gelbloom
- 1961–1962 Gabriel Banat
- 1962–1969 Renato Bonacini
- 1969–2001 Bernard Lurie
- 2001–2004 vacancy
- 2005–date Leonid Sigal