SPCO

History

The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, now in its 52nd season is the nation’s only full-time professional chamber orchestra and is widely regarded as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. In collaboration with five artistic partners – Roberto Abbado, Edo de Waart, Dawn Upshaw, Christian Zacharias and Thomas Zehetmair – the 35 virtuoso musicians present more than 130 concerts and educational programs each year, and are regularly heard on public radio’s Performance Today which reaches 1.5 million listeners each week on 243 stations, and SymphonyCast reaching 480,000 listeners each week on 125 stations nationwide. The SPCO has released 67 recordings, commissioned 127 new works, and performed the world premiere of 49 additional compositions. The SPCO has earned the distinction of 14 ASCAP awards for adventurous programming. Renowned for its artistic excellence and remarkable versatility of musical styles, the SPCO tours nationally and internationally, including performances in premier venues in Europe, Asia and South America. Launched in 1995, the SPCO’s award-winning CONNECT education program reaches 6,000 students and teachers annually in 16 Minneapolis and St. Paul public schools. For more information, visit www.thespco.org

History of the SPCO Artistic Leadership Model

Leopold Sipe (1959-1971) founded the SPCO and was the first to conduct the orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
Dennis Russell Davies (1972-1980) led the SPCO on its first international tour.
Pinchas Zukerman (1980-1987) led the SPCO as both soloist and conductor on sold-out international tours. Zukerman was also instrumental in establishing Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, the SPCO’s venue in Saint Paul.
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski (1987-1988) served as SPCO’s Interim Music Advisor.
Christopher Hogwood (1988-1992) served as Director of Music, along with Hugh Wolff as Principal Conductor, and John Adams (1988-1990) as Creative Chair. Hogwood, Wolff and Adams formed a tripartite Artistic Commission.
Hugh Wolff (1992-2000) led the SPCO in 20 recordings and commissioned 26 new works. He also launched the adult education series Musical “U,” and made acclaimed tours of Asia and Europe.
Andreas Delfs (2001-2004) launched the SPCO’s annual concert broadcasts on Twin Cities Public Television. He also further strengthened the orchestra’s commitment to the Classical repertoire, leading performances of all nine Beethoven symphonies in one season and launching a three-year celebration of Mozart’s music.
In the 2004-05 season, the SPCO transferred broad artistic responsibilities from a music director to the SPCO musicians and four Artistic Partners: Nicholas McGegan (SPCO’s Baroque Series Director since 1999-2000), Joshua Bell, Douglas Boyd, and Stephen Prutsman. SPCO Center opened its doors for the first time and a new concert series was introduced at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater.
Italian conductor Roberto Abbado joined the SPCO as its fifth Artistic Partner during the 2005-06 season. Abbado conducted three weeks of Mozart as the culmination of the three-year Mozart project. Prices were lowered to $10 and $25 in the Neighborhoods in an effort to reach out to new audiences.
French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard joined the roster of Artistic Partners in the 2006-07 season. Wayzata Community Church was added as a new Neighborhood venue. The orchestra toured Europe for the first time since 1998.
World-renowned soprano Dawn Upshaw joined the roster of Artistic Partners in the 2007-08 season. New venues at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley and Benson Great Hall at Bethel University in Arden Hills were added.
In January of 2008 the SPCO hosted the first-ever International Chamber Orchestra Festival. Over four weeks, four world-renowned chamber orchestras (The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the London Sinfonietta, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra) joined the SPCO for concerts all over the Twin Cities.
German pianist and conductor Christian Zacharias joins the SPCO as an Artistic Partner in the 2009-10 season.