Orchestras in Moscow

[Dundonnell]

The research required for the recent list of Orchestras in Berlin was child's play compared to the task of trying to accurately identify different orchestras in Russia pre and post 1991. Russian orchestras seem to have undergone a considerable number of changes of designation, partly as a consequence of the establishment of recording deals with different companies and partly as a consequence of the huge changes which took place in the structure and funding of Russian cultural activity resulting from the fall of Communism.

A full list of the different names of orchestras which have made records would be dauntingly long and would certainly involve different names used by the same orchestra. Sometimes the confusions are the probable result of sloppy translation from the Russian. It is impossible, using the resources of the net alone and without a knowledge of the Russian language, to produce an accurate list and what follows makes no claim to total accuracy ....but it is a first tentative attempt

The orchestras are listed in order of foundation. As ever there may be discrepancies in dates when particular conductors were appointed first as 'Principal Conductor' and then, later, as 'Music Director'.

Final point: at times, while trying to make sense of all this, I have almost lost the will to live

Bolshoi Ballet and Opera

Music Director:

Samuel Samosud:         1936-1942
Ari Pazovsky:              1943-1948
Nikolai Golovanov:        1948-1953
Alexander Melik-Pashayev:1953-1963
Evgeny Svetlanov:       1962-1965
Gennady Rozhdestvensky:1965-1970
Yuri Simonov:              1970-1985
Alexander Lazarev:       1987-1995
Mark Ermler:                1998-2000
Alexander Vedernikov:   2001-

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio

Founded 1930. Known until 1993 as the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra or as the USSR State Radio and Television
Symphony Orchestra

Principal Conductors:

Alexander Orlov:               1930-1937
Nicolai Golovanov:            1937-1953
Alexander Gauk:               1953-1961
Gennady Rozhdestvensky: 1961-1974
Vladimir Fedoseyev:         1974-

State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation (or also called the 'Russian State Symphony Orchestra'-but see also below)

Founded 1936 and known as the USSR State Symphony Orchestra until 1991

Principal Conductors:

Alexander Gauk:            1936-1941
Natan Rakhalin:             1941-1945
Konstantin Ivanov:        1946-1965
Evgeny Svetlanov:        1965-2000
Vassily Sinaisky:            2000-2002
Mark Gorenstein:           2002-

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

Founded 1943.

Principal Conductors:

Lev Steinberg:                  1943-?
Nikolai Anosov:                 ?
Leo Ginzburg:                   19?-60
Veronica Dudarova:           1960-1989
Pavel Kogan:                    1989-

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (sometimes called the 'Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra')

Founded 1951. Current name since 1953.

Principal Conductors:

Samuel Samosud:        1951-1957
Kirill Kondrashin:          1960-1975
Dmitri Kitajenko:         1976-1990
Vassily Sinaisky:         1991-1996
Mark Ermler:              1996-1998
Yuri Simonov:            1998-

State Symphony Capella and Orchestra of Russia (sometimes also called the 'Russian State Symphony Orchestra')

Formed 1983 as the USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra and renamed 1991

Principal Conductors:

Gennady Rozhdestvensky:  1983-1991
Valery Polyansky:             1992-


Moscow Symphony Orchestra

Founded 1989.

Principal Conductors:

Konstantin Krimets:    1989-1993
Antonio de Almeida:   1993-1997
Vladimir Ziva:            1997-

Russian National Orchestra

Founded 1990

Principal Conductor/Artistic Director:

Mikhail Pletnev:         1990-

Symphony Orchestra of Russia (sometimes called the 'State Symphony Orchestra of Russia')

Founded 1991

Principal Conductor:

Veronica Dudarova:     1991-2003
Tugan Sokhiev:          2000-2003
Pavel Sorokin:            2003-2007
Sergey Stadler:          2007-

Russian Philharmonia Orchestra

Founded 1995 as TV6 Orchestra(of Channel 6 of Russia Television)

Principal Conductor:

Alexander Vedernikov:    1995-2004

Russian Philharmonic Orchestra

Founded mid 1990s

Principal Conductors:

Dmitry Yablonsky:      2002-

Globalis Symphony Orchestra

Founded 2000

National Philharmonic of Russia

Founded 2003.

Principal Conductor:

Vladimir Spivakov:      2003-

There also appears to be a State Symphony Radio and TV Orchestra conducted by Pavel Sorokin from 2001 until 2003.

Yuri Ahronovitch and Maxim Shostakovich were the Principal Conductors from 1963 to 1971 and 1971 to 1981 respectively of what is described in various sources as the 'USSR Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra". This cannot be synonomous at that time with the 'Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra' but I am unable to either identify the orchestra's separate existence or to match it with some other orchestra.

   

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Final point: at times, while trying to make sense of all this, I have almost lost the will to live

Your Hero of Labor medal is in the post 

As a regular visitor to Moscow's concert venues, I will offer my perspective on some of this.

Bolshoi Ballet and Opera

Music Director:

Alexander Vedernikov:   2001-

Have heard them under their current MD. Did not impress me as being one of the top bands here - but that's based on one concert.

Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio

Founded 1930. Known until 1993 as the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra or as the USSR State Radio and Television
Symphony Orchestra

This one's a bit of a mystery to me. I've seen advertisements featuring their conductor (Fedoseyev) but I can't recall hearing him live.

State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation (or also called the 'Russian State Symphony Orchestra'-but see also below)

Founded 1936 and known as the USSR State Symphony Orchestra until 1991

Principal Conductors:

Mark Gorenstein:           2002-

Same reaction as to the previous.

Moscow State Symphony Orchestra

Founded 1943.

Principal Conductors:
Pavel Kogan:                    1989-

"Under the Direction of Pavel Kogan" is part of their official name - at least, that's how I see them advertised. Have heard them, most memorably when Maxim Shostakovich was conducting his father's works.

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (sometimes called the 'Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra')

Founded 1951. Current name since 1953.

Have heard them - recall a blistering Heldenleben with their MD Simonov last year. Good orchestra.

State Symphony Capella and Orchestra of Russia (sometimes also called the 'Russian State Symphony Orchestra')

Formed 1983 as the USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra and renamed 1991

Principal Conductors:

Gennady Rozhdestvensky:  1983-1991
Valery Polyansky:             1992-

Have heard them several times, under both the conductors named. Some very memorable programs.

Moscow Symphony Orchestra

Founded 1989.

Despite its "municipal" title, doesn't seem to be one of the leading orchestras. They play a lot of light music.

Russian National Orchestra

Founded 1990

Principal Conductor/Artistic Director:

Mikhail Pletnev:         1990-

I think they're quite famous by now. Very good band, unfortunately doesn't give that many concerts.

Symphony Orchestra of Russia (sometimes called the 'State Symphony Orchestra of Russia')

Founded 1991

Sorry, this one's a mystery to me.

Russian Philharmonia Orchestra

Founded 1995 as TV6 Orchestra(of Channel 6 of Russia Television)

As is this one (in fact, I'm not sure it exists - no currently listed conductor).

Russian Philharmonic Orchestra

Founded mid 1990s

Principal Conductors:

Dmitry Yablonsky:      2002-

Globalis Symphony Orchestra

Founded 2000

The first I've only seen on some Naxos CDs. The second I've never heard of.

National Philharmonic of Russia

Founded 2003.

Very good, prominent orchestra, attracts a lot of good "guest talent."

There also appears to be a State Symphony Radio and TV Orchestra conducted by Pavel Sorokin from 2001 until 2003.

Yuri Ahronovitch and Maxim Shostakovich were the Principal Conductors from 1963 to 1971 and 1971 to 1981 respectively of what is described in various sources as the 'USSR Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra". This cannot be synonomous at that time with the 'Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra' but I am unable to either identify the orchestra's separate existence or to match it with some other orchestra. 

Sorry, can't help you with these ones.

[jlaurson]

National Philharmonic of Russia

Founded 2003.
Principal Conductor:
Vladimir Spivakov:      2003-

The Putin Orchestra. :-)

(Wrote a smidgen about them when I last heard them in D.C.) Check out the link to the IHT article which is very interesting.

Yuri Ahronovitch and Maxim Shostakovich were the Principal Conductors from 1963 to 1971 and 1971 to 1981 respectively of what is described in various sources as the 'USSR Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra". This cannot be synonomous at that time with the 'Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra' ...   

Why would this not be the Tchaikovsky Orchestra currently playing under Fedoseyev?

[Dundonnell]

Many thanks to both of you for clearly going through a list which took me 4 hours to type and goodness alone knows how long to research

My comments on your posts-

spitvalve:

The Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio has made a number of recordings under Fedoseyev. Its website, advertising future concerts:
http://eng.bso.ru/

The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of the Russian Federation is Svetlanov's old orchestra(from which he was sacked by Putin's Minister of Culture in 2000). It now appears to have mysteriously additionally acquired the subtitle 'Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra' )

Future concerts are on-
http://www.gaso.ru/en/

Moscow Symphony Orchestra is the orchestra which has been used by Marco Polo and Naxos to record a huge quantity of music, including, for example, the Malipiero and Tournemire symphonies.

Symphony Orchestra of Russia is the orchestra founded by Dudarova and still closely linked to her until her recent death. Website-
http://www.symor.ru/en/about/

Russian Philharmonia Orchestra-I agree is a bit of a mystery but it has recorded for Naxos the Pavlova Symphonies Nos. 1 and 2-
http://www.naxos.com/orchestrainfo/Russian_Philharmonia_Orchestra/35515.htm
It may, of course, have disappeared since

The Globalis Symphony Orchestra certainly does exist. Website-
http://www.globalis.ru/indexeng.php

So...maybe there is some further concert hunting for you in Moscow

Oh..and I am sure that the Hero of Labor medal will come in handy

Jens:

Yes indeed, the National Philharmonic Orchestra is 'Putin's orchestra'

Regarding Ahronovitch and Maxim Shostakovich. I understand what you are saying but the information on the web about this is hopelessly confusing. Both are cited as the Principal Conductors from 1963 until 1981 of an orchestra which was, apparently, under the direction of Rozhdestvensky. It MAY be that-as is sometimes the (confusing) case-conductors are titled as "Principal Conductors" when, in fact, they did not have overall direction of the orchestra but worked with a "Music Director" who did.

[greg]

BRAVO!

[Dundonnell]

Cheers, Greg

A guy who wrote a letter to 'International Record Review' about Russian orchestras in 2000 said that he had contacted the Russian Embassy in London asking for info' about the identities of various bands. He got no reply

[greg]

Cheers, Greg

A guy who wrote a letter to 'International Record Review' about Russian orchestras in 2000 said that he had contacted the Russian Embassy in London asking for info' about the identities of various bands. He got no reply

HA! 

[Dundonnell]

'International Record Review' has published a letter from me about Russian orchestras. The letter includes a link to this thread so GMG might-just hopefully-gain some new members as a result

[Pierre]

A very useful list - many thanks and well done!

The only addition I would make, having done some research of my own, is to the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra:

Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra (sometimes called the 'Moscow Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra')

Founded 1951. Current name since 1953.

Principal Conductors:

Samuel Samosud:        1951-1957
Nathan Rakhlin        1957-1960
Kirill Kondrashin:          1960-1975
Dmitri Kitajenko:         1976-1990
Vassily Sinaisky:         1991-1996
Mark Ermler:              1996-1998
Yuri Simonov:            1998-

[Dancing Divertimentian]

There's also the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, founded by Rudolf Barshai in 1956.