The Dallas Symphony Orchestra's beginnings can be traced to May 22, 1900, when a 40-member ensemble performed under the direction of German-born conductor, Hans Kreissig.
Under the leadership of such eminent conductors as Walter J. Fried and Jacques Singer, the Dallas Symphony began to grow into a major American orchestra. In 1945, the Dallas Symphony took great strides under the direction of conductor Antal Dorati. Dorati transformed the ensemble into a fully-professional, first-rate orchestra which won national attention through a series of RCA recordings, expanded repertory, more concerts, and several national network radio broadcasts.
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In 1977, Mexican-born Eduardo Mata was appointed music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Under his guidance, the orchestra enjoyed many successes including recording contracts with RCA and Dorian, a European tour, three concerts in Mexico City and three concerts in Singapore. When Mata retired in June of 1993, he had the longest tenure as music director in the orchestra's history and was named conductor emeritus of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
The
Dallas Symphony Association named Andrew Litton to succeed Mata
as music director of the Dallas Symphony in December, 1992. Litton,
a regular guest conductor in the world's leading concert halls and
opera houses, assumed the position of music director of the Dallas
Symphony Orchestra in 1994.
Litton
embarked on an ambitious program to significantly raise the orchestra's
international standing. In 1994, Litton launched the Dallas Symphony's
first television venture, the Amazing Music family concert series.
Litton has made numerous recordings with the DSO, including Mahler's
Symphony No. 5 and "An American Tapestry" with works by Hovhaness,
Ives, Schuman, Piston and Griffes. A Grammy Award-nominated all-Tchaikovsky
disc was released in May 1996, along with other Delos International
recordings including Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8; "Dayful of Song,"
including a world-premiere recording of previously unrecorded works
by George Gershwin; Shostakovich Symphonies 6 and 10; and the most
recent release, Mahler's Tenth Symphony.
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In
November 1995, Litton led the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in a performance
at Carnegie Hall, its fourth New York appearance in the orchestra's
95-year history. The orchestra has since made two return appearances
in 1999 and 2001, with another planned for 2005. In 1997, 2000 and
2003, the Dallas Symphony and Andrew Litton enjoyed triumphant European
tours. The Dallas Symphony debuted at the Colorado Vail Valley Music
Festival during the summer of 1999 and will continue those performances
through 2006. Litton concluded his tenure with the DSO in May 2006.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra announced on February 1, 2007 the appointment of Jaap van Zweden as music director. His first season is coming to a close to much acclaim. His other titled positions include music director of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Kamer Filharmonie (2005-2013), and principal conductor of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra of Belgium (2008-2011).
Joining the DSO in the 2009-2010 season will be a new Assistant Conductor, Rei Hotoda. Music Director Jaap van Zweden said, "She seems to be a very intelligent and strong musician. We look forward to having her with us." And President of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Doug Adams added, "Rei Hotoda made a strong impression during the final round of auditions. She was the unanimous choice, and we are delighted that she will be joining the DSO team."
Ms. Hotoda studied conducting with Gustav Meier at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds a doctorate in piano performance from the University of Southern California and a bachelor of music in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music.
Learn
more about the Dallas Symphony Orchestra by visiting www.DallasSymphony.com.
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