Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

{{Short description|Professional orchestra in Dunedin, New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2019}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{infobox orchestra | name = Dunedin Symphony Orchestra | short_name = DSO | former_name = Dunedin Civic Orchestra (1965–1983)<br> Dunedin Sinfonia (1984–2001)<br> Southern Sinfonia (2002–2015) | image = Dunedin Symphony Orchestra rehearsing in the Dunedin Town Hall.jpg | caption = DSO rehearsing in the Dunedin Town Hall, September 2023 | logo = Dunedin Symphony Orchestra logo.png | type = [[Orchestra]] | location = [[Dunedin]], New Zealand | principal_conductor = | concert_hall = [[Dunedin Town Hall]] | founded = 1965 | website = {{URL|https://www.dso.org.nz}} | current_members = | past_members = }} '''Dunedin Symphony Orchestra''' is a professional [[symphony orchestra]] based in [[Dunedin]], New Zealand. It hosts an annual subscription series of concerts in the [[Dunedin Town Hall]], performing repertoire from the [[Classical period (music)|Classical]], [[Romanticism|Romantic]] and [[Contemporary classical music|contemporary]] periods. It also regularly accompanies Dunedin stage performances by the [[Royal New Zealand Ballet]], [[Opera Otago]] and [[City Choir Dunedin]].<ref name="dso-about">{{Cite web |title=About the DSO |work=Dunedin Symphony Orchestra |url= https://www.dso.org.nz/about-us/ |access-date=22 May 2022 }}</ref><ref name="teara">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Peter |last=Walls |title=Orchestras – Regional orchestras |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/orchestras/page-4 |access-date=23 October 2019}}</ref>

In 2022 the orchestra's concert programme was conducted by Australian cellist and conductor [[Umberto Clerici]], [[New Zealand Symphony Orchestra]] emeritus conductor [[James Judd]], and New Zealand conductors Brent Stewart, [[Marc Taddei]] and [[Kenneth Young (New Zealand composer)|Kenneth Young]].<ref name="star-2022-conductors">{{Cite web |title=DSO welcoming new conductors for season |author= |newspaper=The Star |via=''[[Otago Daily Times]]'' |date=28 April 2022 |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/dso-welcoming-new-conductors-season |access-date=23 May 2022 }}</ref>

== History ==

Orchestral tradition in Dunedin emerged from the needs of amateur choral societies and other musical groups in the late 19th century.<ref>{{cite book |title=Music in Dunedin |first=Margaret |last=Campbell |date=1945 |publisher=Charles Begg |publication-place=Dunedin, New Zealand |oclc=930517639 }}</ref> The Dunedin Ladies Orchestra was formed in 1882, and its first successful concert was given in December of that year at the Lyceum Hall.<ref>{{cite news |title=Notices |newspaper=[[Evening Star (Dunedin)|Evening Star]] |location=Dunedin |date=26 December 1882 |issue=6174 |page=2 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18821226.2.7 |access-date=24 May 2022 |via=[[Papers Past]], [[National Library of New Zealand]] }}</ref> The Dunedin Orchestral Society, another amateur group, was formed and gave its first concert in 1888.<ref name="jane-phd">{{cite thesis |title=An historical survey of the establishment of an orchestral tradition in Christchurch to 1939 |degree=PhD |first=Philip |last=Jane |institution=[[University of Canterbury]] |date=2009 |url=https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/3407 |doi=10.26021/4558 }}</ref> The following year Italian violinist and conductor [[Raffaello Squarise]] settled in Dunedin and founded the Otago Conservatory of Music and the Dunedin Philharmonic Society, an amateur orchestra that he conducted until 1933.<ref>{{DNZB |id=2s38 |first=John D. |last=Drummond |title=Squarise, Raffaello |access-date=24 May 2022 }}</ref>

In the late 1920s the [[Radio New Zealand|New Zealand Radio Broadcast Company]] established orchestras in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin for its regional radio stations. The Dunedin-based 4YA Orchestra recorded variety programmes for the region's 4YA radio station, as well as performing in public and accompanying local choral societies.<ref name="teara-4ya">{{cite encyclopedia |first=Peter |last=Walls |title=The 4YA orchestra |chapter=Orchestras – The first professional orchestras |encyclopedia =[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |chapter-url= http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/orchestras/page-2 |url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/music/44504/the-4ya-orchestra |access-date=23 May 2022}}</ref>

The first orchestra with the name "Dunedin Symphony Orchestra" was established in June 1932 and conducted by violinist B. L. H. de Rose.<ref name="DSO-1932">{{cite news |title=Dunedin Symphony Orchestra |newspaper=Evening Star |issue=21125 |date=10 June 1932 |page=13 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19320610.2.129 |access-date=23 May 2022 |via=[[Papers Past]], [[National Library of New Zealand]] }}</ref> The orchestra went on to give several well-reviewed concerts that year, including a Christmas charity concert and a performance in [[Invercargill]].<ref name="pp-dso1932-review">{{cite news |title=Dunedin Symphony Orchestra: Brilliant initial performance |newspaper=[[Otago Daily Times]] |issue=21702 |date=21 July 1932 |page=10 |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19320721.2.82 |access-date=23 May 2022 |via=[[Papers Past]], [[National Library of New Zealand]] }}</ref> By 1958 the orchestra had become a professional regional orchestra, with musicologist Peter Platt as its principal conductor.<ref name="teara"/>

The current orchestra organisation was formally established in 1965 by Platt and local musician [[Walter James Sinton|Walter Sinton]] as the Dunedin Civic Orchestra, with funding assistance from the [[Dunedin City Council]], [[University of Otago]], the [[New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation]] and the New Zealand [[Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council]].<ref name="dso-about"/>

[[File:Hanover Hall interior East.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.2|Hanover Hall (formerly Hanover Street Baptist Church) interior, 2018]] The orchestra changed its name in 1983 to The Dunedin Sinfonia after a funding review and recommendations from the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, and a reduction in the number of players. In 2002 the orchestra changed its name to "Southern Sinfonia" to reflect its more regional scope, performing in [[Invercargill]], [[Oamaru]] and [[Wānaka]]; however this touring funding was short-lived. The orchestra recovered in size over the following years to 70 players, and as part of the orchestra's 50th anniversary in 2016 it changed its name to the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.<ref name="downinedin-7">{{Cite journal |title=Dunedin Symphony Orchestra: Celebrating 50 Years of Music in Otago |date=September 2016 |last=Davies |first=Caroline |journal=Down in Eden Magazine |issue=7 |pages=152–183 |url= https://issuu.com/downinedinmagazine/docs/downinedinissueseven/s/10235446 |access-date=2 June 2022 |via=[[Issuu]] }}</ref>

In 2018 the orchestra moved into its first permanent home, the community arts centre and historic former church building now known as [[Hanover Hall]].<ref name="hanover-hall-opening">{{Cite web |title=Hanover Hall opens with PM's tributes |last=Lewis |first=John |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=3 November 2018 |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/hanover-hall-opens-pms-tributes |access-date=1 June 2022 }}</ref> After the financial uncertainty and disruption to rehearsals and performances brought about by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], in November 2021 the orchestra received a multi-year grant from the Otago Community Trust, and launched a donations appeal.<ref name="odt-grant-2021">{{Cite news |title=Orchestra given years of backing |newspaper=[[Otago Daily Times]]|date=4 November 2021 |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/orchestra-given-years-backing |access-date=22 May 2022 }}</ref><ref name="odt-appeal-2021">{{Cite news |title=Appeal aims to help DSO deal with challenges |last=Harwood |first=Brenda |newspaper=The Star |date=25 November 2021 |url= https://www.odt.co.nz/the-star/appeal-aims-help-dso-deal-challenges |access-date=22 May 2022 |via=''[[Otago Daily Times]]''}}</ref> {{clear|right}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{official website | https://www.dso.org.nz}} * DSO on [https://sounz.org.nz/contributors/160 SOUNZ]

== Further reading == * Ritchie, Anthony (1992) "The Dunedin Sinfonia: 25 years of orchestral tradition in Dunedin". ''Music in New Zealand'', no. 16: 28–33.

[[Category:Organisations based in Dunedin]] [[Category:Culture in Dunedin]] [[Category:New Zealand orchestras]] [[Category:Symphony orchestras]] [[Category:Musical groups established in 1965]] [[Category:1965 establishments in New Zealand]] [[Category:Musical groups from Dunedin]]