The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra (QPO), a member of

Qatar Foundation Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development ( ar, مؤسسة قطر) is a state-led non-profit organization in Qatar, founded in 1995 by then-emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife Moza bint Nasser. Qatar Founda ...

for Education, Science and Community Development, was founded in 2007 by

Sheikha Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...

Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned ( ar, موزا بنت ناصر المسند; born 8 August 1959) is one of the three consorts of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, former Emir of the State of Qatar. She is co-founder and chairperson of th ...

, the then Emir of Qatar's consort. The orchestra performs both Western and Middle Eastern works, encouraging the enjoyment and creation of such music by the people of Qatar and the region.

History

Kurt Meister, the former managing director of the

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (german: Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, BRSO) is a German radio orchestra. Based in Munich, Germany, it is one of the city's four orchestras. The BRSO is one of two full-size symphony orchestr ...

, was invited by Sheikha Mozah to create an orchestra of international standard and recruited players from over 30 countries. In 2008, Egyptian conductor Nader Abbassi was appointed musical director and Lebanese musician

Marcel Khalife Marcel Khalifé ( ar, مرسيل خليفة; born 10 June 1950 in Amchit) is a Palestinian- Lebanese musical composer, singer, and oud player. Biography In 1983, Paredon Records (later acquired by Smithsonian Folkways) released ''Promises ...

became the artistic director and

composer-in-residence Artist-in-residence, or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs which involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs which provide artists with space a ...

. The QPO's inaugural concert was held in

Doha Doha ( ar, الدوحة, ad-Dawḥa or ''ad-Dōḥa'') is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the count ...

on 30 October 2008, conducted by Lorin Maazel. The 101-player orchestra's home is now the Opera House at the

Katara Cultural Village Katara Mosque Katara Cultural Village, also called Katara, is a cultural and commercial complex in Doha, Qatar, located on the eastern coast between West Bay and the Pearl. It was soft-opened in October 2010 during the Doha Tribeca Film Fest ...

. In advancing its role in the promotion of

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

composers, the orchestra now has nearly forty such works in its repertoire. In addition to its Qatar season, the orchestra has also toured internationally, in the Middle East (Syria), Europe (UK, France, Austria, Italy, Russia), Asia (China) and the United States (New York and Washington). On 8 September 2014, during a European tour, the orchestra's musical director Han-na Chang resigned, citing "persistent administrative difficulties and irreconcilable artistic differences".

Artistic and musical directors

* Marcel Khalife, artistic director 2008–2010 * Nader Abbassi, musical director 2008–2011 * Michalis Economou, musical director 2011–2013 * Han-na Chang, musical director 2013–2014

Guest conductors

List of guest conductors who have conducted the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra: * Lorin Maazel *

Dmitri Kitayenko Dmitri Georgievich Kitayenko (also spelled Dmitrij Kitajenko) (born 18 August 1940) is a Soviet and Russian conductor. He was bestowed the title People's Artist of the USSR (1984). He was born in Leningrad, Soviet Union and studied at the Glinka ...

Gianluigi Gelmetti Gianluigi Gelmetti OMRI, (11 September 1945 – 11 August 2021) was an Italian-Monégasque conductor and composer. Early life Gianluigi Gelmetti was born on 11 September 1945 in Rome, Italy. When 16-years old, Sergiu Celibidache let him conduct ...

*Andreas Weiser * Marc Minkowski *James Gaffigan *David Afkham *Philippe Auguin *Bob Ross *Pablo Mielgo *Alastair Willis *James Shearman

References

External links

QPO website

Qatar Foundation website
{{Authority control 2007 establishments in Qatar Qatari orchestras Musical groups established in 2007

History

Artistic and musical directors

Guest conductors

See also

References

External links