Baltimore Symphony Orchestra

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a major American orchestra, located in Baltimore, Maryland. Its vast repertoire contains music from all eras, including new and commissioned works. It was formed in 1916 as a branch of the municipal government, and Gustav Strube served as the music director until 1930. There was also an orchestra of the same name that existed from 1890 to 1899 under the direction of Ross Jungnickel. In 1942 Reginald Stewart became the director of the BSO and re-formed the ensemble into a private entity. Additionally, as the director of the Peabody Conservatory, he attracted some of the best musicians to the orchestra by offering an additional teaching position at the conservatory. This partnership was modeled after Mendelssohn’s similar handling of the Leipzig Conservatory and the Gewandhaus Orchestra, and it remains in effect. In his years as director, Stewart increased the size of the orchestra to 90 musicians, and he expanded its performance schedule and repertoire. Financial shortcomings led to Stewart’s resignation in 1952, and he was succeeded by Massimo Freccia. Freccia attracted audiences with his thoughtful and innovative programming which included large-scale works, and concert versions of operas. The ensemble underwent another large transformation in 1968 when Sergiu Comissiona was appointed music director by Joseph Meyerhoff, the president of the Symphony Orchestra Organization. Comissiona led the orchestra on its first international tours, and they produced several recordings. Under Comissiona’s leadership, the BSO became one of the top orchestras in the United States. Meyerhoff also funded the construction of the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, which was completed in 1982. David Zinman was appointed music director in 1985, and under his baton the BSO made several Grammy award-winning recordings, and they toured widely until Zinman resigned in 1998. Yuri Temirkanov conducted from then until 2006, followed by Marin Alsop beginning in 2007. Alsop became the first woman to become appointed music director of a major orchestra in the U.S. It was also around this time when the Music Center at Strathmore was opened, as an additional performance venue for the orchestra. Throughout Alsop’s tenure, the BSO toured regularly and produced several recordings which received both Grammy and Emmy award nominations. James Conlon conducted from 2021 to 2022, and Jonathon Heyward also began an appointment as guest conductor in 2022. Additionally, Heyward signed a contract to serve as music director from 2023 to 2028. The BSO performed over 130 concerts in the 2021 to 2022 season, and it offers several community outreach programs. ~ RJ Lambert