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
See also
*
Music of Qatar
The music of Qatar is based on sea folk poetry, song and dance. Traditional dances in Doha are performed on Friday afternoons; one such dance is the Ardah, a stylized martial dance performed by two rows of dancers who are accompanied by an array ...
References
External links
QPO websiteQatar Foundation website
{{Authority control
2007 establishments in Qatar
Qatari orchestras
Musical groups established in 2007