|
|
| |
The History of the Orchestra |
1992 - The merger agreement that formed the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra was signed on September 19. It was signed by the Secretaries of Science and Arts of Saxony and of Thuringia, Dr. Hans-Joachim Meyer and Dr. Ulrich Fickel respectively, the District Administrators of the districts of Greiz and Reichenbach, Jens Geißler and Gerhard Bienert, and the Mayors of the cities Reichenbach and Greiz, Johannes Bögel and Mario Walther.
The concert held in honor of the merger under GMD Hans-Rainer Förster featured a program that included Wagner's "Meistersinger"-Overture, Mozart's "Piano Concert C major key KV 467" (soloist: Peter Rösel) and scenes from Prokofjews Ballet Suites "Romeo and Juliet".
|
 |
 |
|
Philharmonic Orchestra consists of 65 musicians and 6 administrative assistants. During its first season the orchestra performed 128 concerts. MD Stefan Fraas is Conductor and Manager of the orchestra.
|
1993 - The Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra continued its tradition of conductors' classes under the direction of Prof. David Epstein (USA). At Christmas, approximately 1,000 people enjoyed Händel's "Messiah" in Mylau, where the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra performed together with the Higashi-Matsuyama-Choir from Japan.
|
1994 - The orchestra started the spectacular open-air tradition of "Philharmonic Rock". The concert at the "Göltzschtalbrücke" in Mylau attracted about 1,700 visitors. In November, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Requiem" was performed in St. Johannis-Church in Plauen, in the Cathedral in Zwickau and in the Church of Mylau. GMD Hans-Rainer Förster accepted a professorship in Würzburg, vacating the position of Chief Conductor.
|
1995 - In March the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the Philharmonic Choir Jena and the Boy's Choir of the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, performed Benjamin Brittens "War Requiem" in Mylau in front of about 1,000 listeners. As the favored candidate of the orchestra, Doron Salomon became Musical Director. His first symphony concert in September included the "1st Piano Concert" of Bernhard Stavenhagen with Andreas Pistorius as soloist, and Brahms' "Forth". That same year, Stefan Fraas was appointed Executive Director of the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra.
|
1996 - In May, the Philharmonic Orchestra performed a concert in support of the general restoration of the Peter-Paul-Church in Reichenbach, with Hans Otto as organ soloist.
1997 - From March 2nd to 9th, Philharmonic Orchestra undertook a tour through China with four concerts in Shen Zhen (3.5 Mio. habitants), Kanton, Fu San and She Gou. That year s "Philharmonic Rock" counted approx. 7,000 listeners. Prof. Wolf-Dieter Hauschild (born in Greiz) led the conductors' class. In September, the Philharmonic Orchestra opened the festivities in Greiz with Beethoven's "Ninth," where the city celebrated 100 years of Orchestra, the 50th anniversary of Music Weeks, 50 years of Stavenhagen-Competitions and the 30th anniversary of its music school. The year also saw the beginning of the tradition of guest performances in the USA.
|
|
 |
1998 - The exceptionally gifted Italian violinist Ruggiero Ricci celebrated his 80th birthday in the concert hall with the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra in Reichenbach and in Berlin. "Philharmonic Rock" counted 5,000 guests despite the heavy rain that hampered the open air concert. For the first time the Philharmonic Orchestra performed the "Watermusic" at the dam in Falkenstein.
|
|
| |
1998/99 - The Philharmonic Orchestra gave 145 concerts during this season. The highlights in 1999 were the performance of Bach's "Johannes-Passion" in April in Mylau, and a very successful "Philharmonic Rock" in June, again accompanied by heavy rain. In October, the orchestra undertook a successful tour through Spain (12 concerts) with Elena Moargolina as soloist, where works of Glinka, Prokofjew, and Schostakowitsch were performed. November saw the recording of Brahms "Deutsches Requiem," together with the well-known Flensburger Bach-Choir, Gesche Stürmer (soprano) and Olaf Bär (baritone).
|
| |
2000 - In July "Philharmonic Rock" was performed at the "Thüringer Landesgartenschau" (Thuringia Garden Festival) in Pößneck, and in August at the "Tag der Vogtländer" in Reichenbach. At the end of August and the beginning of September, the Philharmonic Orchestra took part in the "International Mozart Festival" in Cyprus by performing Abduction and other works. In November, the performance of Verdi's "Requiem" took place in the "Berliner Glaubenskirche" and in Sindelfingen. The Philharmonic Orchestra furthermore travelled to the USA with a program of Baroque and Classic.
|
| |
2001 - The February concert featured Mahler's Symphony "Four". In April the orchestra played with Rene Kollo, and May saw the opening and closing concerts of the "International Accordion Competition" in Klingenthal and the "Philharmonic Horse Night" in Wolfersdorf. The New Year's Eve Concert started a new concert series called "Stunde der Musik" (Hour of Music).
|
| |
2002 - The January concert featured the German premiere of the "Violas-Concert" of Ahmed Adnan Saygun (Turkey), with Christina Biwank as soloist. In May, the first "Philharmonische Sommernacht" (Philharmonic Summer Night) at the Seehotel Zeulenroda was performed. The orchestra played Robert Schumanns "Das Paradies und die Peri" in the Cathedral of Zwickau in June. From September 7th until 25th, the festival for the ten-year jubilee of the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra took place, featuring an orchestra ball, a symphonic concert and Händel's "Messiah". For the first time, the New Year's Eve concert is played twice in Greiz due to great demand.
|
| |
2003 - In Reichenbach, the two New Year's Eve concerts were also a great success. The advertising for the position of new Chief Conductor ended, and all chosen candidates introduced themselves with an own symphony concert. At the traditional "Klassiknacht" (Classics Night) in Greiz, famous soundtracks are played for the first time and with great success. At the Neuberinhaus in Reichenbach, the Friends of the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated their 10th orchestra ball.
|
| |
2004 - The new Chief Conductor of the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra was chosen with overwhelming majority by the orchestra members and is called Jirí Malát. Initially for 3 years, he will set a new course for the artistic work of the orchestra. At the same time the title "Honorary Conductor" of the Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra was lent to Lothar Seyfarth. In Zwickau "Classics unter Sternen" (Classics under the Stars) was performed for the first time to the enjoyment of 5,000 guests. The new concert series "Sounds of Hollywood" is enthusiastically embraced by both organizers and audiences. On December 30th, the orchestra has the honour of playing a New Year's Eve concert at the Berlin Philharmonic Concert Hall.
|
| |
2005 - The project "Kids meet Classic" was created, aimed at interesting children in age-appropriate music, and was received with an unexpectedly positive response. In honor of the 15th anniversary of German Unity, Beethoven's "Ninth" was performed in the Church of Greiz.
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
