Dallas Symphony Orchestra

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) originated from a concert in 1900, performed by a group of forty musicians under conductor Hans Kreissig. The ensemble began to grow in size and reputation, eventually reaching a point in 1945 where they appointed Antal Doráti as their music director. Under Doráti’s leadership, the orchestra transitioned into a fully professional organization. Over its history, the orchestra has experienced interruptions in operations, including during the First and Second World Wars from 1914-1918 and 1942-1945, and again in 1974 due to financial limitations.

Significant milestones include the orchestra performing under Walter Hendl in 1956 for the premiere of Miklós Rózsa’s Violin Concerto with soloist Jascha Heifetz. Past music directors have included notable figures such as Georg Solti and Eduardo Mata. Andrew Litton served as music director from 1994 to 2006, a period during which the orchestra recorded the four Rachmaninoff piano concerti and the ‘Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini’ with Stephen Hough for Hyperion Records. They also recorded the symphonies of Charles Ives and a Mahler’s Third Symphony recording, which received critical acclaim.

In 2007, Jaap van Zweden was appointed the DSO’s 15th music director, beginning his tenure in the 2008–2009 season and extending it through 2018. More recently, Fabio Luisi guest-conducted in 2002 and again in 2018, leading to his appointment as the orchestra’s next music director in June 2018, effective with the 2020–2021 season, with his contract later extended through 2029. The orchestra appointed Gemma New as its first female principal guest conductor in October 2018 and has also brought on Enrico Lopez-Yañez as Principal Conductor of Dallas Symphony Presents and Anthony Blake Clark as the new Chorus Director. The DSO performs at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, a venue known for its acoustic design by I.M. Pei and acoustician Russell Johnson.