Academic Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonia

The Academic Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonia was founded in 1931 as Leningrad Radio Orchestra. Already from the first years famous Russian conductors such as Rabinovich, Eliasberg, Mravinsky and Musin worked with this ensemble. For them it served as a “music laboratory” where they could experiment and extend their artistic perspective. Working with different conductors’ individualities and facing the continuous demands of new repertoire made the orchestra extraordinary flexible, and so it has remained one of Russia’s most versatile ensembles. The war period became a legendary part of the orchestra’s history. During the blockade of Leningrad this orchestra was the only one to stay and perform in the besieged city, and its concerts and radio broadcasts were among the very few cultural activities the city was able to offer to the public. Its activities during the war culminated with the first performance of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony (“Leningrad”) under Karl Eliasberg on August 9, 1942 – the same day that the Nazis had planned to enter the captured city. The symphony was rehearsed under constant artillery fire. After WW II the Leningrad Radio Orchestra became part of the Leningrad Philharmonia. Although the orchestra still worked for the radio, its live concert appearances had become more and more frequent, and it was quite natural that Leningrad’s two leading orchestras decided to work under the same administration. Since then, the two orchestras are both located at the famous Great Philharmonic Hall in the heart of St. Petersburg where each orchestra gives weekly concerts. The Academic Orchestra’s principal conductors after the war were Nikolai Rabinovitch (1953-1960) and Arvids Jansons (1961-1968). In 1968 the young Yuri Temirkanov was appointed Chief Conductor, a position he held until 1977. This year, when Temirkanov left the orchestra for the Mariinsky Theater, the post was given to Alexander Dmitriev – Rabinovich’s pupil. His creative collaboration with the orchestra has lasted nearly three decades and has proven to be extremely fruitful. In 1985 the orchestra received the honorary title “Academic” for its great contribution to the nation as a performing artist. At present The Academic Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonia it is one of the leading symphony orchestras in Russia. The world’s greatest conductors and soloists are regular visitors, and the orchestra has made a vast number of recordings. Together with chief conductor Dmitriev it is each year touring abroad, and has given concerts both in Europe, Asia and America. 2004