Nikish and R Strauss have both conducted the orchestra. In 1917 the Court Orchestra became the State Orchestra, headed by Koussevitzky, and in 1921, the orchestra was incorporated into the newly founded Petrograd Philharmonia, the first of its kind in the country. Outstanding Russian musicians tested their conducting skills with the orchestra, and legendary Western conductors including Weingartner, Fried, Kleiber, Monteux and Klemperer have all performed with them, as well as soloists such as Horowitz and Prokofiev. The orchestra has mastered a vast contemporary repertoire, and major premieres include Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and Shostakovich’s First Symphony.
1938 ushered in the ‘Age of Mravinsky’ - years of hard work, which earned the orchestra a place among the most prominent orchestras in the world. In 1946 the orchestra embarked on its first foreign trip, giving the first overseas symphonic performances in the country’s history. This was followed by regular tours around the world, performing at the most prestigious European festivals. Mravinsky and the orchestra performed five Shostakovich's symphonies for the first time. Great artists who have worked with the orchestra include conductors Jansons, Maazel, Mehta, Mazur and Rozhdestvensky; composers Britten, Copland, Kodály, Lutosławski, Berio and Penderecki, and soloists van Cliburn, Gould, Michelangeli, Stern, Richter and Oistrakh.
Yuri Temirkanov has led the orchestra since 1988. Plans for 2016/2017 include collaborations with such conductors as Janowski, Venzago, Casadesus, Marin, Sinaisky, and soloists Matsuev, Buchbinder, Lugansky, Argerich, Fischer, Khachatryan and Kutcher.
Yuri Temirkanov has led the orchestra since 1988. Plans for 2016/2017 include collaborations with such conductors as Janowski, Venzago, Casadesus, Marin, Sinaisky, and soloists Matsuev, Buchbinder, Lugansky, Argerich, Fischer, Khachatryan and Kutcher.
