Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra of the Israel Broadcasting Authority (Hebrew: התזמורת הסימפונית ירושלים, רשות השידור, ha-Tizmoret ha-Simfonit Yerushalayim Rashut ha-Shidur) is a major orchestra of Israel. Since the 1980s, the JSO has been based in the Henry Crown Symphony Hall, part of the Jerusalem Theater complex.

Jerusalem Theater home of the orchestra

History

On March 30, 1936, the voice of the postmaster general Colonel Hudson burst into the ether, announcing for the first time “This is Jerusalem Calling”, followed by a Hebrew translation and a speech by the High Commissioner Sir Arthur Grenfell Wauchope, who officially inaugurated the Palestine Broadcasting Service. Music was part of public broadcast content from its very inception, even more so in the years of the British Mandate, since the admitted policy was not to involve any political content whatsoever. The first musical sounds that were heard on that occasion were those of the piano of Erich (Aryeh) Sachs, who played an introduction to a song sung by Chaim Vittorio Weinberg.

Initially, the musical needs of the young radio station were supplied by the small Chamber Orchestra of the Palestine Broadcasting Service, which was directed by the singer-conductor Kar’el Salmon (originally Karl Salomon). Apart from fulfilling these necessary musical obligations, in a true visionary and pioneering fashion, the ensemble set itself to pave the way and establish the ground for future musical activity in Jerusalem. Appropriately, their 1938 program included a Christmas concert given in the Y.M.C.A and conducted by Oxford conductor Crawford McNair, as well as the Palestinian première of Schumann’s Concerto for Violin, with the solo part played by Sasha Parnes, and special programs featuring works from local composers living in Palestine. In 1938, these works included Suites for Strings by Verdina Shlonsky, Joseph Tal (Gruenthal) and Mordechai Seter (Staromirsky), Variations on a Palestinian Song by Salmon, and a “Berceuse” for strings by Peter Gradenwitz.

In 1938, Salmon and McNair reorganized the ensemble and formed the Palestine Broadcasting Service Orchestra, among whose founding members one can mention: Sasha Parnes as the concertmeister; Wolfgang Schoeken and Frankel as second violins; Hanoch (Heinrich) Jacoby, who was a pupil of Hindemith, as well as Jenny Schmerzler, and Arieh Mirkin on violas; Daniel Horfmäkler on cello; flutist Wlihelm von Blaise; and Shabtai Petrushka on brass instruments. In 1939 the orchestra began its weekly concerts at the YMCA, where they were held until 1975, long after it was renamed the Kol Israel (Israeli Broadcasting Association) Orchestra in 1948.

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra played a crucial role in shaping and developing the cultural sphere of the newly formed state. Much in the spirit of the original small ensemble, the orchestra emphasized the commissioning and performance of modern works, both Israeli and foreign, and combined both local soloists and conductors with guest artists.

Outstanding among its conductors were Michael Taube, Georg Singer, Otto Klemperer, Heinz Freudenthal, Shalom Ronly-Riklis, Mendi Rodan, Lawrence Foster, Yoav Talmi, Sergiu Comissiona, Lukas Foss, Gary Bertini and David Shallon. Works that had their première in Jerusalem include David (Milhaud, 1954), Abraham and Isaac (Stravinsky, 1964) and Exhortatio (Dallapiccola, 1971), also and works by Sophia Gubaidulina, Henri Dutilleux and Alfred Schnittke. Over the years, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA, saw breathtaking guests performances from some of the greatest luminaries of recent generations, including Arthur Rubinstein, Igor Markevitch, Henryk Szeryng, Isaac Stern, Radu Lupu, Peter Schrier, Tabea Zimmermann and Yefim Bronfman. In recent years, one of the most notable premieres performed by the orchestra was The Seven Gates of Jerusalem by Polish composer Krzystof Penderecki, conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel, which was composed for the finale of the Jerusalem 3000 celebrations.

Throughout the years the orchestra produced the Liturgical Festival, founded by Maestro Gary Bertini, who also extended the scope of the orchestra and its repertoire by extending the number of musicians from around fifty to ninety.

In February 2019, the American conductor Steven Sloane was appointed as the next musical director of the orchestra.

Musical directors

The Jerusalem Symphony has been led by the following musical directors:

• Mendi Rodan (1963–72)
• Lukas Foss (1972–76)
• Gary Bertini (1978–87)
• Lawrence Foster (1988–92)
• David Shallon (1992–2000)
• Frédéric Chaslin (1999-2002)
• Leon Botstein (2003- 2013)
• Frédéric Chaslin (September 2012-Present)

External links

• Official website
• History of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA
• The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA's Blog