Musical Direction

Strings

Woodwind, Brass & Percussion

Administration

History

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA was founded in the 1940s as the national radio orchestra and was known as the Kol Israel Orchestra. In the 1970s, the orchestra was expanded and became the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Israel Broadcasting Authority.

Since its inception, the orchestra has had six musical directors: Mendi Rodan, Lukas Foss, David Shallon, Lawrence Foster and Gary Bertini. From season 2003-2004 maestro Leon Botstein is appointed music director of the orchestra. In the same season, Yossi Tal-Gan, director general of the Israel Festival, was nominated director general of the orchestra as well.

Since its inauguration, the orchestra's repertoire has been comprised of an exciting combination of the masterpieces of the past and the most exciting musical compositions written in our generation. The orchestra maintains its ongoing varied repertoire ranging from the baroque and the classical periods through the romantic period and reaching to composers of this century, many of whom receive their Israeli premieres with the JSO. The orchestra was the first to perform in Israel the works of the famous Sofia Gubaidolina, Henry Dutilleux, Alfred Schnittke and others.

The JSO has always encouraged Israeli composers by commissioning and performing their works.

Through the years some of the greatest musicians have performed with the orchestra, among them Arthur Rubinstein, Igor Markevitch, Otto Klemperer, Henryk Szeryng, Isaac Stern, Radu Lupu , Peter Schrier and Yefim Bronfman.

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. This was a joint venture with the Bavarian Radio Orchestra. This premier won rave reviews and the work was again performed by the two orchestras in Munich in April 2000 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Bavarian Radio.

Throughout the years the orchestra produced the Liturgical Festival, founded by Maestro Gary Bertini. This series of concerts took place during the winter months and included music of the three monotheistic religions.

The JSO presents five concert series to its subscribers and to the general public. The Musical Discoveries Series, initiated by Maestro Botstein in 2003, featuring both masterpieces and rare works by 19th and 20th century composers. This series may be heard throughout the United States on public and classical radio stations. The orchestra also offers the traditional Classical Series; The Liturgical Series in collaboration with the opera house Tel Aviv-Yaffo featuring popular liturgical works from the 18th century to our days; the Do Re Mix Series for children and their families; and a new series of light Classical music on Friday noon.

The orchestra performs each year during the Israel Festival. In May 2000 the orchestra performed Turandot by Puccini and in June 2001 took part in a production of La Forza del Destino by Verdi. In 2004 it gave two concerts: Mahler's Symphony No. 9 under the baton of Eliahu Inbal and an evening of the music of Richard Strauss featuring soprano Alessandra Marc, conducted by Leon Botstein. In 2006 the orchestra gave a special project dedicated to the entire cycle of Brahms concerti performed by renowned international soloists.

The Orchestra toured Europe in May 2001 and played in some of the most prestigious venues, among them in Vienna, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt and Luzerne. The Orchestra also played in the Carnegie Hall in New-York during an especially successful tour in Spain and the United States. The orchestra returned to Carnegie Hall for the concluding concert of a most successful concert tour in February 2006, under the leadship of Leon Botstein.