The Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra (German: ''Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR'') was a German

radio orchestra A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. In ...

based in

Stuttgart Stuttgart (; Swabian: ; ) is the capital and largest city of the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the Neckar river in a fertile valley known as the ''Stuttgarter Kessel'' (Stuttgart Cauldron) and lies an hour from the ...

in Germany.

History

The ensemble was founded in 1945 by American occupation authorities as the orchestra for Radio Stuttgart, under the name ''Sinfonieorchester von Radio Stuttgart'' (Symphony Orchestra of Radio Stuttgart). The radio network later became the Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR, South German Radio), and the orchestra changed its name in 1949 to the ''Sinfonieorchester des Süddeutschen Rundfunks'' (South German Radio Symphony Orchestra). In 1959, the orchestra took on the name ''Südfunk-Sinfonieorchester''. The orchestra acquired its final name in 1975. Like many

broadcast orchestra A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. In ...

s in Germany, the orchestra had a reputation for performing contemporary music. Past principal conductors included Sir

Neville Marriner Sir Neville Marriner, (15 April 1924 – 2 October 2016) was an English violinist and "one of the world's greatest conductors". Gramophone lists Marriner as one of the 50 greatest conductors and another compilation ranks Marriner #14 of th ...

(1983–1989), who later held the title of principal guest conductor.

Georges Prêtre Georges Prêtre (; 14 August 1924 – 4 January 2017) was a French orchestral and opera conductor. Biography Prêtre was born in Waziers ( Nord), and attended the Douai Conservatory and then studied harmony under Maurice Duruflé and conducting ...

, who became the orchestra's artistic director in 1996, later held the title of ''Ehrendirigent'' (honorary conductor) with the orchestra. From 1998 to 2011,

Roger Norrington Sir Roger Arthur Carver Norrington (born 16 March 1934) is an English conductor. He is known for historically informed performances of Baroque, Classical and Romantic music. In November 2021 Norrington announced his retirement. Life Norr ...

was principal conductor, and incorporated his ideas of historically informed performance, including minimal use of vibrato, into the orchestra's style of playing. Following his tenure with the orchestra, Norrington shared the title of ''Ehrendirigent'' with Georges Prêtre. In March 2010, the orchestra announced the appointment of

Stéphane Denève Stéphane Denève (born 24 November 1971) is a French conductor. He is currently music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the New World Symphony. Biography Denève was born in Tourcoing, France, and graduated ...

as its next principal conductor, starting with the 2011-2012 season. His initial contract was for 3 years. In June 2013, the orchestra announced the extension of Denève's contract through the 2015-2016 season. Denève concluded his tenure as chief conductor at the close of the 2015-2016 season, and was the final conductor to hold the title of chief conductor of the orchestra. In June 2012, the SWR Broadcasting Council voted to approve a measure proposed by SWR ''Intendant'' Peter Boudgoust to merge the Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra with the

Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra The Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra (also known in English as the SWR Baden-Baden Freiburg Symphony Orchestra and in German as the Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks) was a German radio orchestra located in the German cities of Bad ...

, for ostensible reasons of budgetary limitations for two separate orchestras affiliated with the SWR. The SWR Broadcasting Council formally passed the measure in September 2012, with the merger of the two orchestras scheduled to occur in 2016. International protests at the proposal emerged. The orchestra gave its final concert on 28 July 2016 under the direction of Norrington, at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...

as part of

The Proms The BBC Proms or Proms, formally named the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts Presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hal ...

. The replacement orchestra is the

SWR Symphonieorchester The SWR Symphonieorchester (Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra) is a radio orchestra affiliated with the ''Südwestrundfunk'' (Southwest German Radio) public broadcasting network. Formed in 2016, the orchestra is administratively based in S ...

. The orchestra recorded for several labels, including

Hänssler Hänssler-Verlag is a German music publishing house founded in 1919 as Musikverlag Hänssler by Friedrich Hänssler Senior (died 1972) to publish church music. The company is now based in Holzgerlingen. Since 1972 Hänssler Verlag has also publish ...

and

ECM New Series ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is an independent record label founded by Karl Egger, Manfred Eicher and Manfred Scheffner in Munich in 1969. While ECM is best known for jazz music, the label has released a variety of recordings, and ECM's a ...

Principal conductors

Hans Müller-Kray Hans Müller-Kray (13 October 1908 – 30 May 1969) was a German conductor, music director and academic teacher. Life and career Hans Müller was born in Essen-Kray. He grew up as the youngest of 14 children of the mining foreman Karl Müller, ...

(1948–1969) *

Sergiu Celibidache Sergiu Celibidache (; 14 August 1996) was a Romanian conductor, composer, musical theorist, and teacher. Educated in his native Romania, and later in Paris and Berlin, Celibidache's career in music spanned over five decades, including tenures as ...

(1971–1977) *

(1983–1989) *

Gianluigi Gelmetti Gianluigi Gelmetti Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, OMRI, (11 September 1945 – 11 August 2021) was an Italian-Monégasque conducting, conductor and composer. Early life Gianluigi Gelmetti was born on 11 September 1945 in Rome, Kingdom o ...

(1989–1998) *

(1998–2011) *

(2011–2016)

References

External links

Wayback Machine internet archive page on the RSO-Stuttgart homepage (German)

* ttp://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/SWR.htm Bach Cantatas page on the orchestra {{Authority control German symphony orchestras Disbanded orchestras Musical groups established in 1945 Musical groups disestablished in 2016 Musical groups from Stuttgart Radio and television orchestras 1945 establishments in Germany 2016 disestablishments in Germany