The State Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra

Orchestra

The Tchaikovsky State Academic Big Symphony Orchestra (TSO) was founded in 1930 as the All-Union Radio Symphony Orchestra, and renamed after the reorganization of Moscow Radio and Television. Alexander Orlov, who became the orchestra’s first leader in 1930, formed its wide and diverse repertoir.

From 1937 to 1953, the TSO was led by Nikolai Golovanov, whose powerful artistic individuality formed the orchestra style of performance as interpreter of romantic music and Russian classics.

Alexander Gauk became Golovanov’s successor and was the very first to arrange performance of Gustav Mahler‘s and Richard Strauss‘es great compositions.

During the period from 1961 to 1974, Gennady Rozhdestvensky led the orchestra and enriched its repertoire with the music of the XX century.

Bright pages of the orchestra’s history are illustrated by performances of great modern musicians, among which were such foremost conductors as L.Stokovsky, G.Sebastian, H.Abendrot, K.Zekki, K.Sanderling, L.Maasel, K.Mazur, K.Penderetsky, E.Mravisnky, B.Khaikin, R.Barshai, V.Gerigiev, soloists David Oistrakh, L.Kogan, S.Rikhter, E.Gilels, I.Arkhipova, I.Kozlovsky, V.Tretiakov, Y.Bashmet, G.Kremer, M.Maisky, O.Maisenberg and many others.

Since 1974, Vladimir Fedoseev has been the TSO’s Artistic leader and Chief Conductor. For 27 years of his work with the orchestra, V.Fedoseev has developed its best traditions established by his predecessors. Vladimir Fedoseev’s interpretations are distinguished by their depth, sincere artistic character and unique emotional intensity. He feels the national character of the performed music, penetrating to the depth of the composer concept, reviving the composer‘s style. Vladimir Fedoseev managed to form a special melodious emotional style of the orchestra, which distinguished it from others and made it famous around the world.

In 1993, the Orchestra was named after Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky by the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation.

In 1997, Vladimir Fedoseev, still leading the Tchaikovsky State Symphony Orchestra, became the principal conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Maestro arranged opera performances at foremost theatres in Vienna, Zurich, Florence, Milan La Scala, Venice La Fenicce, opera festival in Bregenz. Vladimir Fedoseev became the first ever guest conductor to Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra.

Throughout the years under Fedoseev’s leadership, the TSO has become one of the most popular Russian Symphony Orchestras abroad. TSO is frequently invited to prestigious European festivals; the orchestra often tours over Austria, Germany, Switzerland, other European countries and Japan. The TSO has performed at the best concert halls of the world, at the most significant Russian and European international festivals, among which there are Beethoven’s Festival in Bonn, International Bruckner Festival in Linz, Klang Bogen in Vienna, festivals in Bregenz, Salzburg, I.Menukhin’s Festival in Gstaad. TSO also tours a lot over Russia.

Since 1997, The Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra and Vladimir Fedoseev in cooperation with the Moscow Conservatoire have arranged “Public Symphonic Concert Series”—a cycle of concerts at the Moscow best academic concert hall—the Grand Hall of the Conservatoire. Reviving charity traditions, these concert series grant needy audience with music meetings. The TSO and Vladimir Fedoseev revive the brightest pages of the Moscow Conservatoire music and social history.

The TSO‘s and Vladimir Fedoseev’s recordings were issued by the world leading recording companies among which are Ariola, JVC, Musica, Philips, Pony Canyon, Sony Classical. The orchestra’s discography includes symphonies, operas and ballets of the past and modern masters, Russian and foreign composers. Many of these recordings were awarded with international prizes, (the grand prix Orpheus d’Or in Paris by Chant du monde, Japan radio corporation Asahi crystal prize—the best concert of the year, etc.)

In 1999-2000, a jubilee CD was issued on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Vladimir Fedoseev’s cooperation with the TSO. The jubilee recording consists of twenty-six discs and includes recordings of opera and symphony music, performances with foremost soloists, illustrating the 25-year history of the artistic union between the conductor and the orchestra.

In the season of 1999-2000, Russian press titled the TSO the best orchestra of the year. The series of jubilee concerts in honor of the TSO’s 70th anniversary became one of the brightest music event of the last year of the XX century.