National Symphony Orchestra Orchestra   

Although the National Symphony Orchestra gave its first official concert on November 2, 1931, its roots actually date to the previous year, when about 80 musicians assembled for a series of three concerts, the first of which took place on January 1, 1930. The conductor was Rudolph Schueller; Hans Kindler, however, led the two succeeding concerts and was subsequently named music director of the N.S.O. by a newly formed board of directors. The ensemble played in Constitution Hall, its home for exactly the next four decades. Kindler was a cellist, but showed talent on the podium and innovation in his programming, which tended to be conservative but inclusive of many works by American composers. He also demonstrated a keen sense for orchestra building, as the ensemble improved steadily during his nearly two-decade tenure. The N.S.O. performed for the inauguration of newly elected President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 and thereafter played for all subsequent inaugurations until the installation of the 1972 second Nixon administration, which chose the Philadelphia Orchestra. Financial difficulties plagued the organization by the late 1930s, owing in part to the national Depression. Yet the N.S.O. rarely seemed completely free of fiscal problems in the twentieth century, even in good times.

In 1941, Kindler and the N.S.O. made their first recording, for RCA, of a toccata generally attributed to Girolamo Frescobaldi, in a colorful transcription by the conductor. American Howard Mitchell succeeded Kindler as music director in 1949 and would also have a long tenure, serving until 1969. Mitchell's reign, however, was plagued by controversy regarding his interpretive and technical skills on the podium, as well as by continued financial woes and discontent among orchestra members, which resulted in strikes in the early 1960s. Nevertheless, he managed to attract major artists, such as pianists Emil Gilels, Van Cliburn, and Byron Janis, all three during this very troubling period in his second decade. Mitchell also increased the size of the ensemble and number of concerts and he frequently conducted works by American composers. He had a number of successful tours with the N.S.O., too, including the 1959 19-country excursion through South America and the 1967 European tour. Mitchell stepped down in 1969 and the N.S.O. spent a year under guest conductors. Antal Dorati was named music director in 1970 and the following year, the orchestra's home was relocated to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Dorati's programming was more mainstream, but because he was a composer himself, he also included a fair number of contemporary works. He made a few notable recordings with the N.S.O., particularly one of his piano concertos that featured his piano-playing wife, Ilse von Alpenheim, as soloist. Many musicologists believe the orchestra improved to front-rank status under Dorati. Mstislav Rostropovich succeeded Dorati in 1977 and ushered in an era in which the orchestra attracted many first-rate artists such as Martha Argerich (who made a highly praised recording of the Schumann piano concerto with Rostropovich and the N.S.O.), Isaac Stern, and many others. Moreover, there were numerous successful tours and award-winning recordings. Yet critics were not always kind to Rostropovich, some finding him erratic both in concert and on recordings. Still, his tenure was hugely successful, even if it was also often hampered by financial difficulties.

Rostropovich was succeeded in 1994 by Leonard Slatkin, who had been music director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Slatkin also made successful tours and recordings, including a critically acclaimed CD of Prokofiev's Symphony No. 6. Slatkin remained music director of the 100-member N.S.O. into the 2002-03 season.

© Robert Cummings, All Music Guide