The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in

Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to country. Currently in its 70th season, the orchestra is composed of 56 core professional musicians who perform 42 weeks per season and who play an active role in the musical life of Edmonton and elsewhere as performers, teachers and recording artists. The ESO also performs as the orchestra for

Edmonton Opera Edmonton Opera is a professional Canadian opera company in Edmonton, Alberta, which performs in the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium with its Opera Centre located at 15230 128 Ave in northwest Edmonton. The Opera Centre is home to a box office, ...

and

Alberta Ballet Alberta Ballet (also known as the Alberta Ballet Company) was founded by Muriel Taylor and Dr. Ruth Carse in 1958 and became a professional company in 1966. The company is a resident company of both the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmo ...

productions, and its recordings are regularly heard across Canada on CBC Radio 2.

History

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra was initially formed as Edmonton's community orchestra and performed its first concert on November 15, 1920. The orchestra suspended operations in 1932 due to lack of funds, but was revived on October 31, 1952, when it was incorporated as a registered not-for-profit organization (the Edmonton Symphony Society), and gave its first performance on November 30, 1952. It made the transition to a fully professional orchestra in 1971. In 1973, it was decided to restrict the orchestra to "classical" size. Prior to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

, the ESO's budget was over $10 million, and its players were the highest-paid Canadian orchestral musicians west of

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...

Music directors, conductors, concertmasters, and artistic leaders

Music and artistic directors

* Michael Stern 2022- (Artistic Advisor) * Alexander Prior 2017-2022 (Chief Conductor) * William Eddins 2005-2017 (named Music Director Emeritus in 2017) * Grzegorz Nowak 1994-2002 *

Uri Mayer Uri Mayer (born August 4, 1946, in Târgu Mureș, Romania) is Romanian-born Canadian violist and conductor. Mayer moved to Israel at a young age, and studied at the Conservatory of Music of Tel-Aviv and the University of Tel-Aviv. His conductin ...

1981-1994 (named Conductor Laureate in 1994) *

Pierre Hétu Pierre Hétu (April 22, 1936 in Montreal – December 3, 1998 in Montreal) was a conductor and pianist. He studied music from 1955–57 at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal with Germaine Malépart (piano) and at the ...

1973-1979 (artistic director), 1979-1980 (Principal Guest Conductor) * Lawrence Leonard 1968-1973 * Brian Priestman 1964-1968 * Lee Hepner 1952-1960

Conductors

* Cosette Justo Valdés 2019- (2019 Assistant Conductor and 2021 appointed to Resident Conductor) * Lucas Waldin 2009-2012 (Resident Conductor) * Petar Dundjerski 2006-2008 (Assistant Conductor in Residence) *

Kazuyoshi Akiyama is a Japanese conductor. Biography Born into a musical family, he studied piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, but was fascinated by the conducting activities of a fellow student, Seiji Ozawa. He decided to study conducting with Hideo S ...

2004-2005 (Principal Guest Conductor) *

Franz-Paul Decker Franz-Paul Decker (June 26, 1923 – May 19, 2014) was a German-born conductor. Life Decker was born in Cologne, Germany, where he studied at the Hochschule für Musik with Philip Jarnach and Eugen Papst. He made his conducting debut at the ...

2003-2004 (Principal Guest Conductor) * David Hoyt 1987-2002 (Resident Guest Conductor, Resident Conductor), 2002-2003 (artistic director) *

Peter Nero Peter Nero (born Bernard Nierow, May 22, 1934) is an American pianist and pops conductor. He directed the Philly Pops from 1979 to 2013, and has earned two Grammy Awards. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, as Bernard Nierow, he started ...

1984-1985 (Pops Music Director) * Daniel Swift 1983-1984 (Assistant Conductor) *

Yuval Zaliouk Yuval Zaliouk (יובל צליוק, born 1939 in Haifa) is an Israeli- American conductor. Born into a musical family, he was educated at the Haifa Academy of Music Mitch Miller Mitchell William Miller (July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010) was an American choral conductor, record producer, record-industry executive, and professional oboist. He was involved in almost all aspects of the industry, particularly as a conductor ...

1979-1982 (Principal Guest Conductor for Pops) *

Peter McCoppin Peter McCoppin (born May 2, 1948, in Toronto) is a Canadian conductor and organist. He studied conducting with Erich Leinsdorf, Lovro von Matičič, and Hans Swarowsky, and taught conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music (1975-1978). He w ...

1978-1980 (Assistant Conductor) * John Barnum 1973-1977 (Assistant Conductor) * Ted Kardash 1971-1973 (Assistant Conductor) *

Tom Rolston Thomas Rolston (born October 31, 1932 in Vancouver, British Columbia - died May 29, 2010 in Vancouver, British Columbia) was a Canadian violinist and conductor. After early studies with Douglas Stewart, Roman Totenberg and David Martin, Rolston wa ...

1960-1964 (Associate Conductor)

Concertmasters

Robert Uchida Robert Uchida is a Canadian violinist hailed for his “ravishing sound, eloquence and hypnotic intensity” (Strings magazine). In 2013 he was appointed Concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.,Martin Riseley Martin Riseley (born 10 February 1969 in Christchurch, New Zealand) is a violinist and Head of Strings (violin) at the New Zealand School of Music. Formerly, he was concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Riseley began violin studies ...

1994-2010 * Eric Buchmann, Richard Caldwell, Virginie Gagné, Broderyk Olson (interim, in rotation) 2009-2010 * John Lowry 2002-2003 (interim) * James Keene 1972-1994 * Charles (Karol) Dobiáš 1970-1972 * Marguerite Marzantowicz 1960-1964 (interim), 1964–1970 *

1958-1964 * Walter Holowach 1957-1958 (interim) * Alexander Nicol 1952-1957

Performing venue

In September 1997, the Edmonton Symphony Society and the Edmonton Concert Hall Foundation successfully completed a two-decade, $45 million capital campaign, and the ESO moved from the

Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium The Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium is a performing arts, culture and community facility, located in Edmonton, Alberta. General information and history The auditorium was built in 1957, on a site adjacent to the University of Alberta to cel ...

(the orchestra's principal performing venue since 1957) into its new concert hall, the acoustically superb, 1716 seat

Francis Winspear Centre for Music The Francis Winspear Centre for Music is a performing arts centre located in the downtown core of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Opened in 1997, it is the home of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The centre is named after Francis G. Winspear, who don ...

. The inaugural gala, at which the ESO performed

Mahler Gustav Mahler (; 7 July 1860 – 18 May 1911) was an Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer, and one of the leading conductors of his generation. As a composer he acted as a bridge between the 19th-century Austro-German tradition and the modernism ...

's ''

Symphony of a Thousand The Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major by Gustav Mahler is one of the largest-scale choral works in the classical concert repertoire. As it requires huge instrumental and vocal forces it is frequently called the "Symphony of a Thousand", although th ...

'' with the

Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The orchestra gives the majority of its performances in the Jack Singer Concert Hall at Arts Commons. It is also the resident orchestra for the Calgary Opera, ...

, took place on September 13, 1997.

Programming and special events

Each season, almost 30,000 students experience the orchestra's music at the Winspear Centre. The ''Young Composers Project'', with local composers as mentors, allows select high school students to compose orchestral works and hear them in performance. The orchestra's annual outdoor ''Symphony Under the Sky Festival'' is a popular destination for Edmontonians on Labour Day weekend. The ESO's history and the varied nature of its programming reflect its imaginative commitment to its community. *In 1972, the

Procol Harum Procol Harum () were an English rock band formed in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in 1967. Their best-known recording is the 1967 hit single " A Whiter Shade of Pale", one of the few singles to have sold over 10 million copies. Although noted for ...

album '' Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra'' and its hit single " Conquistador" became the first orchestral recording to achieve international platinum sales. *In 1985, the ESO premiered

Malcolm Forsyth Malcolm Forsyth, (December 8, 1936 – July 5, 2011) was a South African and Canadian Trombone, trombonist and composer. His daughter is former National Arts Centre, National Arts Centre Orchestra principal cellist Amanda Forsyth. Life and ca ...

's ''Atayoskewin'' at the opening of

Shell Canada Shell Canada Limited (french: Shell Canada Limitée) is the principal Canadian subsidiary of British energy major Shell plc and one of Canada's largest integrated oil companies. Exploration and production of oil, natural gas and sulphur is a maj ...

's Scotford Refinery. *In 1980, to celebrate

's 75th anniversary, the orchestra toured the province. *In 1986, the ESO performed at

Vancouver Vancouver ( ) is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the ...

Expo 86 The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo 86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from May 2 until October 13, 1986. The fair, the theme of which was "Transportation and Communicatio ...

. *In 1992, a televised ESO performance with k.d. lang conducted by

Tommy Banks Thomas Benjamin Banks (December 17, 1936 – January 25, 2018) was a Canadian pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, television personality and senator. Television and musical career Banks was the host of nationally - and internationally ...

received a Gemini Award for ''Best Television Variety Performance''. *In 1994, the orchestra undertook a five-city tour (the "Northern Lights Tour") of northern Alberta, the

Yukon Yukon (; ; formerly called Yukon Territory and also referred to as the Yukon) is the smallest and westernmost of Canada's three territories. It also is the second-least populated province or territory in Canada, with a population of 43,964 as ...

and the Northwest Territories. *In 1996, the ESO became the first Canadian orchestra to play on a

First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: **First Natio ...

Reserve. *On May 8, 2012, the ESO made its Carnegie Hall debut, its first performance outside of Canada.

Special concerts

Special ESO concerts drawing sold-out houses have featured, among others, k.d. lang in 1985, Tom Cochrane and Red Rider in 1989,

The Arrogant Worms The Arrogant Worms are a Canadian musical comedy trio founded in 1991 that parodies many musical genres. They are well known for their humorous on-stage banter in addition to their music. The members since 1995 are Trevor Strong (vocals), Mike McC ...

in 2002,

Corb Lund Corb Lund is a Canadian country and western singer-songwriter from Taber, Alberta, Canada. He has released eleven albums, three of which are certified gold. Lund tours regularly in Canada, the United States and Australia, and has received several ...

in 2005, Paul Brandt in 2006,

Video Games Live Video Games Live (VGL) is a concert series created by Tommy Tallarico and originally founded by Tallarico and Jack Wall. The concerts consist of segments of video game music performed by a live orchestra with video footage and synchronized light ...

in 2007,

Nikki Yanofsky Nicole Rachel "Nikki" Yanofsky (born February 8, 1994) is a Canadian jazz-pop singer from Montreal, Quebec. She sang the CTV Olympic broadcast theme song, " I Believe", which was also the theme song of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. She also p ...

in 2008, reunion concerts with

in 1992 and 2010, Ben Folds in 2012 and 2014, and

Ian Tyson Ian Dawson Tyson (September 25, 1933 – December 29, 2022) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote several folk songs, including " Four Strong Winds" and " Someday Soon", and performed with partner Sylvia Tyson as the duo Ian & Sylvia. Ea ...

on the 100th anniversary of the Province of Alberta on September 1, 2005. In March 2011, the ESO presented a memorable concert devoted exclusively to the music of Frank Zappa, and in December 2005, the orchestra returned to the

to present two sold-out

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year ...

concerts with Christian singer/pianist

Michael W. Smith Michael Whitaker Smith (born October 7, 1957) is an American musician who has charted in both contemporary Christian and mainstream charts. His biggest success in mainstream music was in 1991 when " Place in This World" hit No. 6 on the '' ...

. The orchestra continues this tradition of working with musicians from a variety of musical genres. In December 2012, the orchestra performed two Christmas concerts with the Barenaked Ladies. In December 2017, the orchestra performed four Christmas concerts with

Jann Arden Jann Arden (born Jann Arden Anne Richards; March 27, 1962) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. She is famous for her signature ballads, "Could I Be Your Girl" and " Insensitive", which is her biggest hit to date. Early life and educat ...

Composers in residence

John McPherson was appointed the orchestra's fourth Composer in Residence in August 2016. Robert Rival, the orchestra's third Composer in Residence (2011-2014) wrote six major works for the orchestra during his residency: *''Delights & Discords'' (2014) *''Northwest Passage Variations'' (2014) *''Symphony No. 2 "Water"'' (2013) *''Achilles and Scamander'' (2012) *''Lullaby'' (2012) *''Whirlwind'' (2012)

Allan Gilliland Allan Gilliland (born 1965 in Darvel, Scotland) is a contemporary Canadian composer. Gilliland moved to Canada in 1972 and settled in Edmonton, Alberta. He received a diploma in Jazz Studies (trumpet) from Humber College, and degrees in perfo ...

, the ESO's second Composer in Residence (2000–2004) composed nine major works for the orchestra, as well as a colorful new orchestration of Canada's

national anthem A national anthem is a patriotic musical composition symbolizing and evoking eulogies of the history and traditions of a country or nation. The majority of national anthems are marches or hymns in style. American, Central Asian, and Europea ...

. Before his residency, Gilliland had been commissioned to write two works for the ESO. Following his residency, he was commissioned to write two jazz-flavoured works: a rhapsody for piano and orchestra, and a suite for trumpet and orchestra. *''Dreaming of the Masters III'' (2010) (funded by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts) *''Dreaming of the Masters II (Rhapsody GEB)'' (2008) (co-commission with CBC) *''Above the Fold'' (2004) *

Calixa Lavallée Calixa Lavallée (December 28, 1842 – January 21, 1891) was a French-Canadian-American musician and Union Army band musician during the American Civil War. He is best known for composing the music for "O Canada," which officially became the na ...

O Canada "O Canada" (french: Ô Canada, italic=no) is the national anthem of Canada. The song was originally commissioned by Lieutenant Governor of Quebec Théodore Robitaille for the 1880 Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day ceremony; Calixa Lavallée composed the mus ...

'' (new orchestration) (2004) *''Dreaming of the Masters I'' (2003) *''Gaol's Ruadh Ròs – A Celtic Concerto for Two Harps'' (2003) *''Always Be True'' (2002) *''Violin Concerto'' (2002) *''A Wild Symphonic Ride'' (2002) *''Loch na Beiste'' (2001) *''On the Shoulders of Giants'' (2001) *''Shadows and Light'' (2000) *''Winspear Fanfare'' (1997) *''Trumpet Concerto'' (1994)

John Estacio John Estacio (born April 8, 1966) is a contemporary Canadian composer of opera, orchestral and choral music. __TOC__ Life and career Estacio was born in Newmarket, Ontario. Raised in the farming community of the Holland Marsh, Ontario, Estacio t ...

was the ESO's first Composer in Residence (1992–1999). He also produced nine major works for the orchestra during his residency: *''The Twins and the Monster'' (2001) *''The Brass Ring'' (1999) *''Frenergy'' (1998) *''Concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello'' (1997) *''Wondrous Light'' (1997) *''Borealis'' (1997) *''Victims of Us All'' (1996) *''A Farmer's Symphony'' (1994) *''Alegria'' (1994)

Canadian commissions

The ESO has a long tradition of commissioning and performing works by Canadian – and particularly Albertan – composers. On April 29, 2005, the ESO presented a highly acclaimed concert of music by five contemporary Alberta composers –

Allan Gordon Bell Allan Gordon Bell, (born 24 May 1953) is a Canadian contemporary classical composer. Career Born in Calgary, Alberta, Bell received a Master of Music degree from the University of Alberta where he studied with Violet Archer, Malcolm Forsyth, and ...

and Jeffrey McCune – in Southam Hall at Ottawa's

National Arts Centre The National Arts Centre (NAC) (french: Centre national des Arts) is a performing arts organisation in Ottawa, Ontario, along the Rideau Canal. It is based in the eponymous National Arts Centre building. History The NAC was one of a number of ...

as part of the ''Alberta Scene'' festival. In May 2012, the ESO performed the US premieres of music by its first three Composers in Residence at Carnegie Hall's second annual ''Spring for Music'' festival. Works commissioned by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra include: * Louis Applebaum ''Concertante'' / ''Prelude'' / ''Incantation'' / ''Sinfonia'' / ''Evocations for Two Pianos and Orchestra'' *

Violet Archer Violet Louise Archer (24 April 191321 February 2000) was a Canadian composer, teacher, pianist, organist, and percussionist. Born Violet Balestreri in Montreal, Quebec, in 1913, her family changed their name to Archer in 1940. She died in Ottawa o ...

''Prelude - incantation'' / ''Sinfonia'' *

''Symphonies of Hidden Fire'' *Patrick Cardy ''Trobadores'' *George Fiala ''Overtura Buffa'' *

''Symphony No. 2 '... A Host of Nomads... / ''Requiem for the Victims in a Wartorn World'' / ''Siyajabula! We Rejoice!'' / ''A Ballad of Canada'' *

''Dreaming of the Masters II'' *Stewart Grant ''Symphony ("Et in Terra…")'' *Ronald Hannah ''Suite of orchestral dances: the common air that bathes the globe'' * Jacques Hétu ''Concerto for Organ'' *Yuri Laniuk ''Palimpsesty'' *Raymond Luedeke ''Tales of the Netsilik'' * Rod McKuen ''The Ballad of Distances - Symphonic Suite, Opus 40'' * François Morel ''Neumes d'espace et reliefs'' *Jeffrey McCune ''Aquamarine'' / ''Dance Suite'' / ''Overture Sauvage'' *John McPherson ''Walk in Beauty'' *Kelly-Marie Murphy ''Utterances'' *Cha Ka Nin ''Memento Mori'' * Randolph Peters ''WildFire'' *Laurie Radford ''a tangle in the throat'' *Manus Sasonkin ''Musica post prandia'' *Robert Turner ''Shades of Autumn''

Commercial discography and videography

;'' Procol Harum Live: In Concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra'' (

, Da Camera Singers, Lawrence Leonard conductor, 1972) :'' Conquistador'' / ''Whaling Stories'' / A Salty Dog / ''All This and More'' / ''In Held 'Twas In I'' / ''Luskus Delph'' / ''Simple Sister (Rehearsal Version)'' / ''Shine on Brightly (Rehearsal Version)'' / '' A Salty Dog (Rehearsal Version)'' / ''Luskus Delph (Rehearsal Version)'' ;''Music by Haydn, Debussy, Wirén'' ( Boris Brott ¹ and

John Avison John Henry Patrick Avison, (April 25, 1915November 30, 1983) was a Canadian conductor and pianist. From 1938 to 1980, he was the founding conductor of the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra. He was a longtime member of the Vancouver Symphony Orche ...

² conductors, 1973) (CBC SM-284) :

Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( , ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions to musical form have led ...

'' Symphony No. 99'' ¹ /

Debussy (Achille) Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influential composers of the ...

''Petit suite: En bateau'' ² / Wirén ''March'' ² ;'' McKuen The Ballad Of Distances: Symphonic Suite, Opus 40'' (

conductor, 1973) (WB 2WS 2731) ;''Scarlet and Gold / L'Escarlet et L'Or - Alberta R.C.M.P. Century Celebrations, 1874-1974'' (Members of the Gleichen Alberta Blackfoot Indian Reserve¹, Father Colin Levangie chanter¹, Father Jacques Jolie chanter¹, Father Ubald Duchesneau chanter¹, Roy Warhurst fiddle¹,

conductor, 1974) (Denali SGLP 1001) :Dere ''Overture'' ¹/ ''Rebellion'' / ''Tribute to the R.C.M.P.'' ;''Music by Wolf, Purcell, Adaskin, Warlock'' (

conductor, 1975) (CBC SM-294) :

Wolf The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly un ...

'' Italian Serenade'' /

Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest Eng ...

'' The Married Beau Suite'' (Arranged by

Holst Gustav Theodore Holst (born Gustavus Theodore von Holst; 21 September 1874 – 25 May 1934) was an English composer, arranger and teacher. Best known for his orchestral suite ''The Planets'', he composed many other works across a range ...

) / Adaskin ''Diversion for orchestra (an entertainment)'' /

Warlock A warlock is a male practitioner of witchcraft. Etymology and terminology The most commonly accepted etymology derives '' warlock'' from the Old English '' wǣrloga'', which meant "breaker of oaths" or "deceiver" and was given special applicati ...

''Six Italian Dances'' ;''Music by Ibert, Françaix, Rameau'' (

conductor, 1976) (CBC SM-316) : Ibert ''Suite symphonique: "Paris"'' / Françaix ''Sérénade'' /

Rameau Jean-Philippe Rameau (; – ) was a French composer and music theorist. Regarded as one of the most important French composers and music theorists of the 18th century, he replaced Jean-Baptiste Lully as the dominant composer of French opera and ...

Les fêtes d'Hébé ''Les fêtes d'Hébé, ou Les talens lyriques '' (''The Festivities of Hebe, or The Lyric Talents'') is an ''opéra-ballet'' in a prologue and three ''entrées'' (acts) by the French composer Jean-Philippe Rameau. The libretto was written by Anto ...

'' ;''Orchestral Suites of the British Isles'' (

conductor, 1984) (CBC SM 5035, SMC 5035, SMCD 5035) :

Vaughan Williams Ralph Vaughan Williams, (; 12 October 1872– 26 August 1958) was an English composer. His works include operas, ballets, chamber music, secular and religious vocal pieces and orchestral compositions including nine symphonies, written over ...

'' English Folk Song Suite'' /

Capriol Suite The Capriol Suite is a set of dances composed in October 1926 by Peter Warlock and is considered one of his most popular works. Originally written for piano duet, Warlock later scored it for both string and full orchestras. According to the compos ...

'' / Harty ''A John Field Suite'' ;''Great

Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi (; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, receiving a musical education with the h ...

Arias'' ( Louis Quilico baritone,

conductor, 1985) (CBC SM 5043, SMC 5043, SMCD 5043) :''"E sogno o realtà?" (

Falstaff Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays '' Henry IV, Part 1'' and '' Part 2'', w ...

)'' / ''"Morir! tremenda cosa...Urna fatale de mio destino" ( La forza del destino)'' / ''"Cortigiani, vil razza dannata" (

Rigoletto ''Rigoletto'' is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the 1832 play '' Le roi s'amuse'' by Victor Hugo. Despite serious initial problems with the Austrian censors who had co ...

)'' / ''"Vanne! la tua meta già vedo...Credo in un Dio crude!" ( Otello)'' / ''"Perfidi!...Pietà, rispetto, amore" ( Macbeth)'' / ''"Tutto è deserto...Il Balen del suo soriso" (

Il trovatore ''Il trovatore'' ('The Troubadour') is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto largely written by Salvadore Cammarano, based on the play ''El trovador'' (1836) by Antonio García Gutiérrez. It was García Gutiérrez's mos ...

)'' / ''"Di Provenza il mar, il suol" ( La traviata)'' / ''"Alzati! là tuo figlio...Eri tu che macchiavi quell’anima" (

Un ballo in maschera ''Un ballo in maschera'' ''(A Masked Ball)'' is an 1859 opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The text, by Antonio Somma, was based on Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's 1833 five act opera, '' Gustave III, ou Le bal masqué''. Th ...

)'' ;''Great Tenor Arias'' (Ermanno Mauro tenor,

conductor, 1986) (CBC SM 5046, SMC 5046, SMCD 5046) : Bizet ''"La fleur que tu m’avais jetée" ( Carmen)'' /

Massenet Jules Émile Frédéric Massenet (; 12 May 1842 – 13 August 1912) was a French composer of the Romantic music, Romantic era best known for his operas, of which he wrote more than thirty. The two most frequently staged are ''Manon'' (1884) ...

''"O Souverain, ô juge, ô père!" (

Le Cid ''Le Cid'' is a five-act French tragicomedy written by Pierre Corneille, first performed in December 1636 at the Théâtre du Marais in Paris and published the same year. It is based on Guillén de Castro's play ''Las Mocedades del Cid''. Castro ...

)'' / Puccini ''"Che gelida manina" (

La bohème ''La bohème'' (; ) is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions '' quadri'', '' tableaux'' or "images", rather than ''atti'' (acts). composed by Giacomo Puccini between 1893 and 1895 to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giusep ...

)'' / Leoncavallo ''"Recitar!... Vesti la giubba" ( Pagliacci)'' /

''"Niun mi tema" ( Otello)'' /

Gounod Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...

''"Ah! lêve-toi, soleil" ( Roméo et Juliette)'' /

''"Pourquoi me réveiller?" (

Werther ''Werther'' is an opera (''drame lyrique'') in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on Goethe's epistolary novel '' Th ...

)'' / Puccini ''" E lucevan le stelle" (

Tosca ''Tosca'' is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language drama ...

)'' / Puccini ''"

Nessun dorma "" (; English: "Let no one sleep") is an aria from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera ''Turandot'' (text by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni) and one of the best-known tenor arias in all opera. It is sung by Calaf, (the unknown prince), ...

" (

Turandot ''Turandot'' (; see below) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, posthumously completed by Franco Alfano in 1926, and set to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. ''Turandot'' best-known aria is " Nessun dorma", ...

)'' / Giordano ''"Un dì all'azzuro spazio", also known as "L'improvviso" ( Andrea Chénier)'' /

''"Ma se m'è forza perderti" (

)'' /

''"Ah si, ben mio...

Di quella pira "Di quella pira" ("Of that pyre") is a short tenor aria (or more specifically, a cabaletta) sung by Manrico in act 3, scene 2, of Giuseppe Verdi's opera ''Il trovatore''. It is the last number of the act. Setting In a chamber adjoining the chape ...

" (

'') ;''Music by Forsyth and Freedman'' (

conductor, 1986) (SM 5059, SMC 5059, SMCD 5059) : Freedman ''Oiseaux exotiques'' / Forsyth ''Atayoskewin'' ( Juno Award: Best Classical Composition) ;''Canadian and Russian Overtures'' (

conductor, 1986) (CBC SM 5069, SMC 5069, SMCD 5069) : Forsyth ''Jubilee Overture'' / Ridout ''Fall Fair'' / Morawetz ''Overture to a Fairy Tale'' /

Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throughout his life as a major compo ...

''Festive Overture, Opus 96'' /

Borodin Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin ( rus, link=no, Александр Порфирьевич Бородин, Aleksandr Porfir’yevich Borodin , p=ɐlʲɪkˈsandr pɐrˈfʲi rʲjɪvʲɪtɕ bərɐˈdʲin, a=RU-Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin.ogg, ...

Prince Igor ''Prince Igor'' ( rus, Князь Игорь, Knyáz Ígor ) is an opera in four acts with a prologue, written and composed by Alexander Borodin. The composer adapted the libretto from the Ancient Russian epic '' The Lay of Igor's Host'', which re ...

: Overture'' /

Kabalevsky Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky (russian: Дми́трий Бори́сович Кабале́вский ; 14 February 1987) was a Soviet composer, conductor, pianist and pedagogue of Russian gentry descent. He helped set up the Union of Soviet C ...

''Colas Breugnon: Overture'' / Glinka '' Russlan and Ludmilla: Overture'' ;''Anthology of Canadian Music, Volume 27'' (

conductor, 1987) (RCI 5-ACM 27) :Fiala ''The Kurelek Suite'' ;''Harp Concertos'' (Gianetta Baril harp,

conductor, 1989) (CBC SM 5086, SMC 5086, SMCD 5086) : Ginastera ''Harp Concerto, Opus 25'' / Morawetz ''Concerto for Harp and Chamber Orchestra'' ( Juno Award: Best Classical Composition) ;''Great Orchestral Marches'' (

conductor, 1990) (CBC SM 5093, SMC 5093, SMCD 5093) : Fučík ''

Entrance of the Gladiators "Entrance of the Gladiators" op. 68 or "Entry of the Gladiators" ( cz, Vjezd gladiátorů) is a military march composed in 1897 by the Czech composer Julius Fučík. He originally titled it "Grande Marche Chromatique", reflecting the use of chr ...

'' / Alford ''

Colonel Bogey The "Colonel Bogey March" is a British march that was composed in 1914 by Lieutenant F. J. Ricketts (1881–1945) (pen name Kenneth J. Alford), a British Army bandmaster who later became the director of music for the Royal Marines at Plymouth. ...

'' / Sousa ''

Stars and Stripes Forever "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is a patriotic American march written and composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896. By a 1987 act of the U.S. Congress, it is the official National March of the United States of America. History In his 1928 autob ...

'' /

Elgar Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet, (; 2 June 1857 – 23 February 1934) was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestr ...

'' Pomp & Circumstance No. 4'' / Farnon ''State Occasion'' / Papineau-Couture ''Marche de Guillaument'' /

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...

'' Turkish March'' (from '' The Ruins of Athens'') /

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical and early Romantic eras. Despite his short lifetime, Schubert left behind a vast ''oeuvre'', including more than 600 secular vocal wor ...

'' Marche Militaire'' (Arranged by Schönherr) /

Johann Strauss I Johann Baptist Strauss I (; also Johann Strauss Sr., the Elder, the Father; 14 March 1804 – 25 September 1849) was an Austrian composer of the Romantic Period. He was famous for his light music, namely waltzes, polkas, and galops, which he ...

Radetzky March "Radetzky March", Op. 228, is a march composed by Johann Strauss Sr. and dedicated to Field Marshal Joseph Radetzky von Radetz. First performed on 31 August 1848 in Vienna, it soon became popular among regimented marching soldiers. It has bee ...

'' /

Willan Willan is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Anne Willan (born 1938), founded the Ecole de Cuisine La Varenne *Frank Willan (1915–1981), English pilot, Royal Air Force officer and Conservative politician *Frank Willan (rower) ( ...

''Centennial March'' / Delibes ''Cortège de Bacchus'' /

Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky , group=n ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer of the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music would make a lasting impression internationally. He wrote some of the most popu ...

''Jurisprudence March'' / Baker ''March (Evocations, Movement II)'' / Adaskin ''March No. 2'' / Halvorsen '' Triumphal Entry of the Boyars'' / Grieg March of the Dwarfs (from '' Lyric Suite'' /

Herbert Herbert may refer to: People Individuals * Herbert (musician), a pseudonym of Matthew Herbert Name * Herbert (given name) * Herbert (surname) Places Antarctica * Herbert Mountains, Coats Land * Herbert Sound, Graham Land Australia * Herbert ...

''March of the Toys (from Babes in Toyland)'' (Arranged by Otto Langey) / Rodgers ''March of the Siamese Children (from

The King & I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the children ...

)'' (Arranged by Bennett) / Williams ''

The Imperial March "The Imperial March (Darth Vader's Theme)" is a musical theme present in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. It was composed by John Williams for the film ''The Empire Strikes Back''. Together with "Yoda's Theme", "The Imperial March" was premiered on ...

(from

The Empire Strikes Back ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (also known as ''Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back'') is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner from a screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a stor ...

)'' ;''Works for

Cello The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G ...

and Orchestra'' (

Shauna Rolston Shauna Rolston (born 31 January 1967 in Edmonton, Alberta) is a Canadian cellist. Rolston was a cello child prodigy and attended the Geneva Conservatory in Switzerland at age fourteen. She studied with Pierre Fournier, and later at the Britten- ...

cello,

conductor, 1989) (CBC SM 5105, SMC 5105, SMCD 5105) : Morawetz ''Memorial to Martin Luther King'' / Bruch '' Kol Nidrei, Opus 47'' / Fauré ''Élégie for Cello and Orchestra, Opus 24'' / Dvořák ''Silent Woods, Opus 68 No. 5'' /

Bliss BLISS is a system programming language developed at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) by W. A. Wulf, D. B. Russell, and A. N. Habermann around 1970. It was perhaps the best known system language until C debuted a few years later. Since then, C b ...

''Concerto for Cello and Orchestra'' ;'' The Symphony Sessions'' (

Tom Cochrane Thomas William Cochrane ( ; born May 14, 1953) is a Canadian musician best known as the frontman for the rock band Red Rider and for his work as a solo singer-songwriter. Cochrane has won eight Juno Awards. He is a member of the Canadian Music H ...

Red Rider Red Rider, later known as Tom Cochrane & Red Rider, is a Canadian rock band popular in the 1980s. While they achieved significant success in Canada, the band never had a song in the top 40 in the United States, although " Lunatic Fringe" from t ...

, George Blondheim conductor, 1989) (EMI C2 0 7777 2654 2 8) :''Light in the Tunnel'' / ''Human Race'' / ''Can’t Turn Back'' / ''Napoleon Sheds His Skin'' / ''White Hot'' / ''Big League'' / ''Calling America'' / ''Avenue "A"'' / ''Bird on a Wire'' / ''Boy Inside the Man'' / ''Lunatic Fringe'' / ''Good Times'' / ''The Next Life'' ;''Music by Britten and Willan'' (

conductor, 1993) (SMCD 5123) :

Britten Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976, aged 63) was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He was a central figure of 20th-century British music, with a range of works including opera, other ...

''Canadian Carnival, Opus 19'' /

Peter Grimes ''Peter Grimes'', Op. 33, is an opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto by Montagu Slater based on the section "Peter Grimes", in George Crabbe's long narrative poem '' The Borough''. The "borough" of the opera is a fictional ...

: Four Sea Interludes, Opus 33a'' /

''Symphony No. 2 in C minor'' ;''Russian Sketches'' (

conductor, 1997) (CBC SMCD 5169) :

Ippolitov-Ivanov Mikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov (russian: Михаи́л Миха́йлович Ипполи́тов-Ива́нов; 28 January 1935) was a Russian and Soviet composer, conductor and teacher. His music ranged from the late-Romantic era ...

'' Caucasian Sketches, Opus 10'' /

Eugene Onegin ''Eugene Onegin, A Novel in Verse'' (Reforms of Russian orthography, pre-reform Russian: ; post-reform rus, Евгений Оне́гин, ромáн в стихáх, p=jɪvˈɡʲenʲɪj ɐˈnʲeɡʲɪn, r=Yevgeniy Onegin, roman v stikhakh) is ...

, Opus 24: Polonaise'' /

'' The Sleeping Beauty, Opus 66: Waltz'' /

'' The Age of Gold: Suite, Opus 22a: Polka'' / Borodin ''In the Steppes of Central Asia'' /

Rimsky-Korsakov Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov . At the time, his name was spelled Николай Андреевичъ Римскій-Корсаковъ. la, Nicolaus Andreae filius Rimskij-Korsakov. The composer romanized his name as ''Nicolas Rimsk ...

The Golden Cockerel ''The Golden Cockerel'' ( rus, Золотой петушок, Zolotoy petushok ) is an opera in three acts, with short prologue and even shorter epilogue, composed by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, his last opera he completed before his death in 1908. ...

: Suite'' ;''Electra Rising: Music of

'' (William Street

saxophone The saxophone (often referred to colloquially as the sax) is a type of Single-reed instrument, single-reed woodwind instrument with a conical body, usually made of brass. As with all single-reed instruments, sound is produced when a reed (mouthpi ...

, Amanda Forsyth

cello The cello ( ; plural ''celli'' or ''cellos'') or violoncello ( ; ) is a bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C2, G ...

, Grzegorz Nowak conductor, 1997) (SMCD 5180) :''Valley of a Thousand Hills'' / ''Tre Vie'' / ''Electra Rising'' ( Juno Award: Best Classical Composition) ;''Music by Smetana and Janáček'' ( Grzegorz Nowak conductor, 1999) (Music of Central Europe MCE 5001) : Smetana ''

Má vlast ''Má vlast'' (), also known as ''My Fatherland'', is a set of six symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. The six pieces, conceived as individual works, are often presented and recorded as a single ...

'' (original 1875 version) / Janáček ''Moravian Dances'' ;'' P.J. Perry and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra'' ( P.J. Perry,

, David Hoyt conductor, 1999) :''Django'' / ''

Charlie Parker Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...

Medley'' / '' Bossa Nova Medley'' / ''They Kept Bach's Head Alive'' / ''Ballad Medley'' / ''Hand In Hand'' / ''Harlem Nocturne'' / ''The Old Castle'' / ''Strike Up The Band'' ;'' Semi-Conducted'' (CD) / '' Three Worms and an Orchestra'' (DVD) (

, David Hoyt conductor, 2003) :''Overture'' / ''Big Fat Road Manager'' / ''Canada's Really Big'' / ''Rocks and Trees'' / ''Log In to You'' / ''I am Cow'' / ''Last Saskatchewan Pirate'' / ''Gaelic Song'' / ''Me Like Hockey'' / ''Carrot Juice is Murder'' / ''Dangerous'' / ''Billy the Theme Park Shark'' / ''

Celine Dion Céline Marie Claudette Dion ( ; born 30 March 1968) is a Canadian singer. Noted for her powerful and technically skilled vocals, Dion is the best-selling Canadian recording artist, and the best-selling French-language artist of all time. Her ...

'' / ''We are the Beaver'' ;''Frenergy: The Music of

'' ( Mario Bernardi conductor, 2004) (CBC SMCD 5232) :''Frenergy'' / ''A Farmer's Symphony'' / ''Bootlegger's Tarantella'' / ''Such Sweet Sorrow'' / ''Solaris'' / ''Borealis'' / ''Wondrous Light'' ;'' Steve Bell in concert with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra'' (DVD) ( Steve Bell, vocalist, Rei Hotoda conductor, 2008) :''Here By the Water'' / ''Deep Calls to Deep'' / ''Waiting for Aidan'' / ''Burning Ember'' / ''Lord of the Starfields'' / ''Even So'' / ''Wellspring'' / ''Holy Lord'' ;''

Carl Czerny Carl Czerny (; 21 February 1791 – 15 July 1857) was an Austrian composer, teacher, and pianist of Czech origin whose music spanned the late Classical and early Romantic eras. His vast musical production amounted to over a thousand works and ...

- A Rediscovered Genius'' (Jolaine Kerley soprano, Joy-Anne Murphy alto, Benjamin Butterfield tenor, Paul Grindlay bass, André Moisan clarinet, Grzegorz Nowak ¹ and Leonard Ratzlaff ² conductors, 2011; recorded in 2002) (DOREMI DHR-6011-3) :''Grand Overture in C minor, Opus 142'' ¹ / ''Overture in E major'' ² / ''Offertorium: "Benedicat nos Deus", Opus 737'' ² ;''Logos Futura'' (Antonio Peruch accordion, Grzegorz Nowak conductor, 2011; recorded in 2001) (FisarmonicArt AP201101) : Forsyth ''Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra'' ;''A Concert for New York'' ( Angela Cheng

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keybo ...

Denise Djokic Denise Djokic (born 13 November 1980) is a cellist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. ''The Strad'' magazine has called her instantly recognizable for her "arrestingly beautiful tone colour". Career Djokic is a native of Halifax. She grew up in a large mus ...

Juliette Kang Juliette Kang (born September 6, 1975) is a Canadian violinist. In 1994, she earned the gold medal at the International Violin Competition of Indianapolis. Kang went on to have an international solo career. She joined the Philadelphia Orchestra ...

violin The violin, sometimes known as a '' fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone ( string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument ( soprano) in the family in regu ...

, Jens Lindemann

trumpet The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...

, William Eddins conductor, 2013) (ESO LIVE 2012-05-01) :Robert Rival ''Lullaby'' / Estacio ''Triple Concerto'' / Gilliland ''Dreaming of the Masters III'' / Martinů Symphony No. 1 / Bernstein ''"Mambo" (from Symphonic Dances from "

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...

")'' ;''True North - The Canadian Songbook'' (Eleanor McCain vocalist,

, Paul Pike native flute, Pro Coro Canada, Martin MacDonald conductor, 2017) : McLachlan ''Angel'' (Arranged by Darren Fung) /

Robertson Robertson may refer to: People * Robertson (surname) (includes a list of people with this name) * Robertson (given name) * Clan Robertson, a Scottish clan * Robertson, stage name of Belgian magician Étienne-Gaspard Robert (1763–1837) Places ...

''Broken Arrow'' (Arranged by Don Breithaupt) / MacLellan ''Snowbird'' (Arranged by Don Breithaupt)

References

*
"Resonances, Reminiscences & Repercussions: The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at Fifty"
by Jerry Ozipko in ''The Alberta New Music and Arts Review'', pp 100-115, Vol. III/IV, No. 4/5, Fall 1999/Fall 2002. *History of the ESO from the Winspear Centre website: https://www.winspearcentre.com/more/about/about-eso/history/ * https://classicalvoiceamerica.org/2022/05/02/orchestra-breaks-mold-with-adventures-into-new-worlds-of-music/ title=How Did Edmonton Get to Carnegie Hall * https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/how-did-edmonton-get-to-carnegie-hall-by-thinking/ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2231037532 *{{cite book , first= Mark, last= Morris, year= 2022, title= Alex Prior Leaves the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra The Edmonton Journal publisher= https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/local-arts/alex-prior-leaves-the-edmonton-symphony-orchestra

External links

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra websiteEdmonton Symphony Orchestra in the ''Encyclopedia of Music in Canada''
*''Orchestra Spotlight: The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra'' at Polyphonic.org * Faceboo
Edmonton Symphony page
* Twitte
Edmonton Symphony page
* YouTub
Edmonton Symphony page
{{Authority control Canadian orchestras Companies based in Edmonton Musical groups from Edmonton Musical groups established in 1920 1920 establishments in Alberta