The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra

One of Israel’s major orchestras, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA is known for their performances of the finest music - from the works of the Baroque and Classical period through the Romantic period to contemporary material. The Orchestra serves as the Israeli Radio Orchestra and is based in the grand Henry Crown Symphony Hall in the Jerusalem Theater complex.

The upcoming 2012-1013 season marks the Orchestra's 75^th season, having been founded in the late thirties as part of the national radio orchestra of the Palestine Broadcasting Service. To celebrate the 75^th Season, the JSO-IBA dedicates a series of tribute concerts to the legendary musicians who have worked with the orchestra along the years.

In 1938 the ensemble, directed by singer-conductor Kar’el Salmon, paved the way for future musical activity in Jerusalem with a Christmas concert at the YMCA conducted by Oxford conductor Crawford McNair. In 1938, Salmon and McNair reorganized the ensemble and formed the Palestine Broadcasting Service Orchestra, and in 1939 began weekly concerts at the YMCA (which were held until 1975). In 1948 the Orchestra was renamed as the Kol Israel Orchestra, and later the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, IBA. The Orchestra was instrumental in shaping the arts and cultural sector of the new state.

The current Musical Director of the orchestra is Maestro Frédéric Chaslin. Since its establishment, there have been seven other musical directors: Mendi Rodan, Lukas Foss, Gary Bertini, Lawrence Foster, David Shallon and Leon Botstein.

Over the decades, some of the music world’s legendary musicians have performed with the JSO, with memorable performances by Igor Stravinsky, Otto Klemperer, Arthur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Isaac Stern, Pablo Casals, Igor Markevitch, Henryk Szeryng, Yo Yo Ma, Michel Legrand, Pierre Boulez, Neville Mariner, Christa Ludwig, Tabea Zimmermann, Martha Argerich, Radu Lupu, Jose Carreras, Jean Pierre Rampal, Maxim Vengerov and Yefim Bronfman. The Orchestra performed original works for the first time in Israel as well as the works of Sofia Gubaidolina, Henri Dutilleux, Alfred Schnittke and others. The JSO has always supported Israeli composers by commissioning their works and this season the orchestra will perform chamber music by Israeli composers.

Among the most notable premières performed by the orchestra: the opera "David" by Milhaud (1954); the cantata "Abraham and Isaac" by Stravinsky, conducted by Robert Craft (1964); and "The Seven Gates of Jerusalem" by Krzysztof Penderecki conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel, which was commissioned as the conclusion for the Jerusalem 3000 celebrations (1999).

In the past, true to their status as the main orchestra of Jerusalem, the JSO-IBA took particular pride in the Liturgical Festival, founded by Maestro Gary Bertini, which presented music of worship from the three major religions. The festival has now been incorporated into the concert season as a series of vocal and liturgical concerts.

The JSO often conducts tours in Europe and in the United States, and has played in some of the most prestigious venues. Recently, the orchestra toured South America with Maestro Yeruham Scharovsky. In 2008 the JSO led a US tour, performing a special program of composers from the American Diaspora. In June 2009 the orchestra performed the oratorio "Elijah" (Mendelssohn) at the closing event of the annual Bachfest in Leipzig. In May 2001 the orchestra toured in Europe and has played in prestigious venues such as the Musikvereine in Vienna, the Philharmonie in Cologne and major halls in Düsseldorf, Frankfurt and Lucerne. In 2003 the JSO-IBA played at Carnegie Hall in New-York during an especially successful tour in Spain and the United States.

Some of the highlights of the upcoming 75^th season include a performance of the complete cycle of Beethoven's symphonies conducted by Maestro Chaslin; a concert with conductor Gil Shohat and Oren Nahari, Head of Foreign News Desk at Israel's Channel 1; and a special gala concert with the legendary musician Michel Legrand.

The orchestra is supported by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the Ministry of Culture and Sport and the Jerusalem City Municipality.