Stamitz Orchestra

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Stamitz Orchestra in Mannheim is one of the largest and oldest amateur symphony orchestras in Europe. Traditionally, only the conductor is a professional musician.

history

The Stamitz Orchestra was formed in the autumn of 1778, when the Palatinate Elector Karl Theodor assumed the Bavarian succession in 1777 and moved his residence from Mannheim to Munich . He also took his court orchestra with him, which was already known in Europe at the time. Many of its members were not only well-known musicians, but also composers (including Ignaz Holzbauer , Franz Xaver Richter , Georg Joseph Vogler , Christian Cannabich , Franz Danzi ). Its director was the Bohemian composer and violinist Johann Stamitz , who founded the so-called Mannheim School .

The ensemble gave its first concert on November 20, 1778 and was part of Mannheim's cultural life for half a century. But even after the re-establishment of a purely professional orchestra, the amateur orchestra remained to this day and in 1922 gave itself the name Stamitz Orchestra to commemorate the name of the founder of Mannheim's musical reputation.

The orchestra was recognized for its services to musical life in 1954 by the Mannheim municipal council with the award of the Schiller plaque , in 1986 by the former Federal President Richard von Weizsäcker with the award of the Pro Musica plaque and in 1998 by the state government of Baden-Württemberg with the award of the Conradin -Kreutzer-Tafel honored.

Today the orchestra is an association based in Mannheim and bears the name Stamitz-Orchester Mannheim, Vereinigung von Musikfreunden eV The association currently has around 80 active members. There are also sponsoring and honorary members (status: 2006). The orchestra is a member of the Federal Association of German Lover Orchestras .

Conductors

Web links