Court Orchestra |

Russian orchestral group. Created in 1882 in St. Petersburg as the Court Musical Choir to serve the imperial court (on the basis of the abolished musical “choirs” of the Cavalry Guards and the Life Guards Cavalry Regiments). In fact, it consisted of 2 orchestras – a symphony and a wind orchestra. Many musicians of the Court Orchestra played both in the symphony and in the brass band (on various instruments). Following the example of military orchestras, the musicians of the “choir” were listed as military personnel, which made it possible to attract talented performers drafted into the army (preference was given to those who knew how to play two instruments – string and wind).

M. Frank was the first bandmaster of the “choir”; in 1888 he was replaced by G. I. Varlikh; from 1882, the symphonic part was in charge of bandmaster G. Fliege, after whose death (in 1907) Warlich remained senior bandmaster. The orchestra played in palaces at court balls, receptions, during royal and regimental holidays. His duties also included participation in concerts and performances in the court of Gatchina, Tsarskoye Selo, Peterhof and the Hermitage theaters.

The closed nature of the orchestra’s activities was reflected in the artistic level of the performance, resulting in a low-content repertoire, which was mainly of a service nature (marches, carcasses, hymns). The leaders of the orchestra sought to go beyond serving the court circles, to find ways to reach a wider audience. This was facilitated by open concerts on the summer stage of the Peterhof Garden, public dress rehearsals, and later concerts in the halls of the Court Singing Chapel and the Nobility Assembly.

In 1896, the “choir” became civil and was transformed into the Court Orchestra, and its members received the rights of artists of the imperial theaters. From 1898, the Court Orchestra was allowed to give paid public concerts. However, it was not until 1902 that Western European and Russian classical symphonic music began to be included in the concert programs of the Court Orchestra. At the same time, on the initiative of Varlich, “Orchestral Meetings of Musical News” began to be systematically held, the programs of which usually consisted of works performed in Russia for the first time.

Since 1912, the Court Orchestra has been developing a wide range of activities (the orchestra’s concerts are gaining fame), holding cycles of historical concerts of Russian and foreign music (accompanied by popular lectures), special concerts dedicated to the memory of A. K. Lyadov, S. I. Taneyev, A. N. Scriabin. Some concerts of the Court Orchestra were conducted by major foreign guest performers (R. Strauss, A. Nikish, and others). During these years, the Court Orchestra achieved particular success in promoting the works of Russian music.

The Court Orchestra had a music library and a music-historical museum. In March 1917 the Court Orchestra became the State Symphony Orchestra. See Honored Collective of Russia Academic Symphony Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic.

I. M. Yampolsky