Orchestre Symphonique de Paris

The Orchestra Symphonique de Paris (Symphonic Orchestra of Paris) was an orchestra principally active in Paris from 1928 to 1939. The orchestra was co-founded by Ernest Ansermet, Louis Fourestier and Alfred Cortot and gave its first concert on 19 October 1928 at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

The financial support for the orchestra came from wealthy sponsors such as Gustave Lyon, director of Pleyel, two banker Ménard brothers, and the Princess de Polignac. Members of the management board were Robert Lyon (general administrator), Charles Kiesgen (administrative secretary), André Schaeffner (artistic secretary) along with Henri Monnet and Jean Gehret. Financial difficulties forced the orchestra to become an association in mid 1931.

The aim of the new orchestra was to present less-known works of major composers as well as contemporary music and the central concert repertoire, playing to a high standard. The standard of the orchestra was considered to be high, partly due to the number of rehearsals before each concert. Of the eighty musicians chosen (out of 600 auditioned) the majority were under 25.

From 1929 Pierre Monteux was invited by Cortot to become closely involved with the orchestra as artistic director and principal conductor. Monteux made his debut with them on 12 April that year, conducting a major spring festival; at the end of the first season the orchestra had given 63 concerts. The season also saw the first recording by the orchestra (although referred to as ‘Grand Orchestra Symphonique’): the premiere recording in May of The Rite of Spring, conducted by Monteux, at the refurbished Salle Pleyel.

New works premiered by the orchestra included Rugby in 1928, Capriccio for piano and orchestra in 1929 both under Ansermet, Poulenc’s Concert Champêtre (with Wanda Landowska), Prokofiev’s 3rd symphony under Monteux; as well as Paris premieres of Janáček's Sinfonietta and fragments from Berg’s Wozzeck.

The orchestra toured to Belgium and Holland in 1930, then in late 1931 to fifteen cities, including Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin, Dresden and Vienna; in 1932 to Brussels and in 1933 to Geneva. Other recordings with the orchestra include Ravel's La Valse, Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, the Bach Double Concerto (with Menuhin and Enescu), and Fête Polonaise from Le roi malgré lui under Monteux, the Symphonie Espagnole under Coppola, works by Gaubert conducted by the composer, Soviet music (Shostakovich, Alexander Mosolov, Yuliy Meitus) conducted by Julius Ehrlich, as well as Bach played by Cortot.

Birth and Death Data: Born Founded 1928, Died Ceased 1939

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1928 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: Musical group

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 47 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Gramophone CF2830 12-in. 1/30/1930 Troyens à Carthage : Overture Pierre Monteux ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX171 12-in. 1/24/1929 Scènes pittoresques : Marche Pierre Chagnon ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX172 12-in. 1/24/1928 Scènes pittoresques : La fête bohéme Pierre Chagnon ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX173 12-in. 1/24/1928 Scènes pittoresques : Angelus Pierre Chagnon ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX174 12-in. 1/24/1928 Scenes pittoresques : Air de ballet Pierre Chagnon ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX177 12-in. 5/7/1928 Acte 4: Choeur du cortège Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Vocal chorus, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX178 12-in. 2/13/1928 Acte 3: Quant au douanier Andrée Bernadet ; Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Andrée Vavon ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal trio with orchestra and chorus Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX179 12-in. 2/13/1928 Acte 1: Habanera Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Raymonde Visconti Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX196 12-in. 2/16/1928 Acte 1: Choeur de la dispute Élie Cohen ; Louis Guénot ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX201 12-in. 2/17/1928 Rapsodie norvégienne, 1re partie Pierre Chagnon ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX202 12-in. 2/17/1928 Rapsodie norvégienne, 2e partie Pierre Chagnon ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX229 12-in. 2/22/1928 Acte 3: Entr'act Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX230 12-in. 2/22/1928 Acte 2: Duo de Carmen et Don José, 2e partie Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and tenor), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX232 12-in. 2/22/1928 Acte 1: Séguédille et duo de Carmen et don José Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and tenor), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX235 12-in. 3/3/1928 Acte 1: Choeur et entrée de Micaela Élie Cohen ; Louis Guénot ; Marthe Nespoulous ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Vocal duet, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX236 12-in. 2/24/1928 Acte 3: Final, 1re partie Andrée Bernadet ; Élie Cohen ; Louis Guénot ; Téo Mathyl ; Marthe Nespoulous ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Roussel ; Georges Thill ; Andrée Vavon ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX237 12-in. 2/24/1928 Acte 3: Final, 2e partie Andrée Bernadet ; Élie Cohen ; Louis Guénot ; Téo Mathyl ; Marthe Nespoulous ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Roussel ; Georges Thill ; Andrée Vavon ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX242 12-in. 5/3/1928 Acte 1: Ouverture Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris Orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX243 12-in. 2/24/1928 Acte 2: Duo de Carmen et Don José, 1re partie Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and tenor), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX244 12-in. 5/8/1928 Acte 3: Duo de Don José et d'Escamillo "Je suis Escamillo" Élie Cohen ; Louis Guénot ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill Vocal duet (tenor and baritone), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX248 12-in. 3/5/1928 Acte 1: Choeur des cigarières et entrée de Carmen Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Raymonde Visconti Mezzo-soprano vocal solo, with orchestra and chorus Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX249 12-in. 3/5/1928 Acte 3: Choeur des contrebandiers Andrée Bernadet ; Élie Cohen ; Téo Mathyl ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Roussel ; Georges Thill ; Andrée Vavon ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal chorus and soloists, with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX250 12-in. 3/5/1928 Acte 4: Duo de Carmen et Don José, 2e partie; Mort de Carmen Élie Cohen ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill ; Raymonde Visconti Vocal duet (mezzo-soprano and tenor), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX251 12-in. 3/5/1928 Acte 1: Duo de Micaela et Don José, 1re partie Élie Cohen ; Marthe Nespoulous ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra Musical group  
Columbia (U.K.) WLX252 12-in. 3/5/1928 Acte 1: Duo de Micaela et Don José, 2e partie Élie Cohen ; Marthe Nespoulous ; Orchestre Symphonique de Paris ; Georges Thill Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra Musical group  
(Results 1-25 of 47 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Orchestre Symphonique de Paris," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106989.

Orchestre Symphonique de Paris. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106989.

"Orchestre Symphonique de Paris." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/106989

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