Topic: Your favorite orchestra names

[Brian]

Do you prefer "Symphony Orchestra" or "Philharmonic Orchestra"?

What about various alternative names out there?

I like the simplicity and elegance of plain names like Minnesota Orchestra. I also like the rather romantic name of the old radio band "Symphony of the Air." Orchestra of the 18th Century is a cool, descriptive name.

[Biffo]

I have always liked the snappily named Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire (de Paris). 'de Paris seems optional.

[kyjo]

My favorite has to be the Grand Symphony Orchestra of the All-Union Radio and Television

[Brian]

I have always liked the snappily named Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire (de Paris). 'de Paris seems optional.

That one is such a pain to document in my listening log. I opt for "Paris Conservatoire Orch" 

[king ubu]

Do you prefer "Symphony Orchestra" or "Philharmonic Orchestra"?

You can have both combined, of course, the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.

[André]

Right now I’m listening to Schéhérazade (Rimsky’s) played by the Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic Orchestra on the Onyx label.

It’s named after its sponsor, the turkish Borusan conglomerate. I guess the name itself doesn’t have another meaning.

French orchestras used to be named after their founder’s name: Pasdeloup, Lamoureux, Colonne, Straram.

[Brian]

You can have both combined, of course, the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York, Inc.

or the Czech Chamber Philharmonic, Pardubiče

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

I think it is quaint that there are still orchestras around named after their idiosyncratic founder. For example, the Halle orchestra, and Orchestre Lamoureux, also known as Société des Nouveaux-Concerts.

[Mandryka]

Les gens qui parlent français et qui connaissent Le père noel et une ordure comprennent bien pourquoi j’adore le nom The Cluj Philharmonic.

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

I have always liked the snappily named Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire (de Paris). 'de Paris seems optional.

There's Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, but that can't compete with the Paris Conservatorie. On the other hand, Santa Cecilia still exists.

[André]

The Paris Conservatoire still exists. Its current director is composer Bruno Mantovani. I don’t know about the Orchestre, though.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatoire_de_Paris

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

The Paris Conservatoire still exists. Its current director is composer Bruno Mantovani. I don’t know about the Orchestre, though.


https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservatoire_de_Paris

I was referring to the orchestra, which was dissolved in 1967, although in some sense the Orchestre de Paris is it's successor.

Amazing that the French Government would dissolve an orchestra that had existed since 1828.

[vandermolen]

My favorite has to be the Grand Symphony Orchestra of the All-Union Radio and Television

+1

+ Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I like it when orchestras are named after the hall they play in - Concertgebouw, Gewandhaus. Of course, the hall has to have an interesting name. I wouldn't want the CSO to rename itself the Orchestra Hall Orchestra, that would be stupid.

HIP orchestras have the most stylish names (Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique; Il Giardino Armonico; etc.).

It's a good thing the Albany Symphony Orchestra doesn't call itself Orchestra Albany, because that is the name of a street gang:

https://ganglifechicago.com/category/orchestra-albany/

[vandermolen]

Others I like:

Sudwestfunkorchester Baden-Baden

USSR Symphony Orchestra

L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks

Orquesta Filarmonica de Gran Canaria (Great CD of Walton's First Symphony).

[Florestan]

Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique
Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment
Freiburger Barockorchester
Les Violons du Roy
L'Orchestra Haydn di Bolzano e Trento (Haydn-Orchester von Bozen und Trient)

[JBS]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Grande_%C3%89curie_et_la_Chambre_du_Roy

[PerfectWagnerite]

Oregon Symphony (no "Orchestra")
Academy of Ancient Music
Handel and Haydn Society
Concentus Musicus Wien

[Ghost of Baron Scarpia]

Academy of Saint Martin-in-the-Field sounds so delightfully pastoral.

French orchestra names sound so sophisticated to an English speaker. To a French speaker I am sure they are oh so mundane.

Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise,
Orchestre Philharmonique des Pays de Loire
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse
Orchestre du Theatres des Champs-Elysees
La Chapelle Royale
Ensemble Musique Oblique

(forgive me for any transcription errors).

[Brian]

HIP orchestras have the most stylish names (Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique; Il Giardino Armonico; etc.).

Oooh, not to mention Gli Incogniti! Although I suppose they may be a chamber group?

They can't beat The Harmonious Society of Tickle-Fiddle Gentlemen though.