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History of the CPO
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Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra at the
Jack Singer Concert Hall.
Photo Credit: Garry Kan
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Led by internationally renowned Music Director Roberto Minczuk, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has been a cornerstone of Calgary’s multi-faceted arts community since 1955 and is one of North America’s finest and most versatile livemusic ensembles. A repertoire that is extensive and broad in scope consistently attracts acclaimed guest artists and conductors. From classical giants to rock and roll hits and family favourites, the CPO offers an average of 65 concerts per Season designed to fit all musical tastes.
The CPO was created in the 1955 merger of the Alberta Philharmonic and the Calgary Symphony. Performing in Calgary's Grand Theatre to a small but enthusiastic audience at first, the CPO gained wider attention in 1957 with the completion of its first home, the Jubilee Auditorium. As the audience grew and public acclaim heightened, the CPO moved to its permanent home in the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts’ Jack Singer Concert Hall in 1985, one of North America’s most acoustically acclaimed venues.
Maestro Roberto Minczuk begins his fourth year as Music Director of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra during the 09/10 Season. He is also the Artistic Director of the Orquestra Sinfonica Brasileira in Rio de Janeiro. Until May of 2006, he served as Principal Guest Conductor of the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra in Brazil - having recently completed a nine year tenure as Co-Artistic Director of that same orchestra and a two year period as Associate Conductor of the New York Philharmonic. Roberto is also Music Director of Campos do Jordão International Winter Festival in Brazil, the oldest and most traditional festival of classical music in the country. A protégé of Kurt Masur, Maestro Minczuk has swiftly established himself as one of the most important emerging talents of his generation. Since his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 1998, he has been invited to conduct extensively in North America, with highly successful appearances at nearly all of the major North American orchestras and many of the European capitals as well.
The CPO is pleased to welcome a new Resident Conductor, Mélanie Léonard, who joined the CPO at the beginning of the 2009/2010 Season. The CPO has also recently welcomed Timothy Shantz as Chorusmaster of the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, a celebrated choral group over 100 voices strong.
Past Music Directors of the CPO include the celebrated Mario Bernardi (1984 – 1992), who guided the Orchestra through a period of tremendous artistic growth and led the CPO’s first North American Tour which brought the ensemble to new creative heights. The tour garnered rave reviews after performing in some of the world’s best-known concert venues, including Carnegie Hall. From 1995 – 2003, the legendary Hans Graf became Music Director, leading the CPO to its award-winning European tour in the fall of 2000, making the CPO the first Western Canadian orchestra to tour Europe. In June 2006, the Calgary Philharmonic Society proudly bestowed upon Maestro Hans Graf the honourary lifetime title of Music Director Laureate in recognition of his immense contributions to the CPO.
The CPO provides several different concert Series: Classics, Serenade, Destination, POPS, Saturday Morning at the Symphony (SMATS) and Symphony Sundays for Kids, covering a broad range of musical styles and repertoire and appealing to a wide and diverse audience.
The CPO offers the unique cpossibilities program, designed for 15 to 29 year olds, created to enhance the Orchestra’s accessibility and affordability for younger audiences and to expand the Orchestra’s younger demographics. The CPO also performs a number of special concerts each year including “The Tchaikovsky Festival”, “Hear & Now: A New Music Festival” and “POPS in the Park”, an annual favourite which has become a signature family event. In addition, the CPO undertakes education and community outreach activities, and serves as the resident Orchestra for Calgary Opera, Alberta Ballet, the Calgary International Organ Festival and the Esther Honens Calgary International Piano Competition. The CPO has gained international recognition through its extensive recordings, national CBC broadcasts and touring.
Promising the world’s most sought-after guest artists and picks from the favourites of classical giants, Broadway smashes, TV legends and much more, the 2009/2010 Season offers gems for every kind of music lover. Performing for more than 90,000 people each year, the CPO continually reaches new heights of artistic excellence and looks forward to continuing to provide its audiences with the exciting live music experience that is the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
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