Early orchestras did not utilize a conductor, but instead the
concertmaster or the
continuo player, generally the
harpsichordist, led the orchestra. As the orchestra grew in size throughout the latter half of the 18th century, composers generally conducted their music to facilitate more expedient and efficient rehearsal and performance preparation. By the 19th century, conductors were considered an integral part of the orchestra and a distinct role separate from the composer. Most, if not all, performances throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th century were led by conductors.
1920s After the
Russian Revolution in the early twentieth century, the Pervïy Simfonicheskiy Ansambl′ bez Dirizhyora (Russian for "First Conductorless Symphony Ensemble"), or
Persimfans formed in the Soviet Union. The purpose of the conductorless state of this orchestra did not stem from musical ideals alone but encapsulated the political and philosophical ideas of the time. Persimfans built itself upon egalitarian concepts and functioned by committee. They sat in a large circle while they performed and took cues across the circle. Persimfans formed in 1922 and lasted ten years until it disbanded for political reasons.
1950s Founded in 1951, the
Prague Chamber Orchestra (PKO) is perhaps one of the longest-running conductorless orchestras. The orchestra started when members of the Czechoslovak Radio Symphony Orchestra formed an ensemble more suited for non-standard programming. The orchestra's first album contained Bohemian music, recorded in 1951, though their repertoire now spans works from the Baroque era to contemporary music. As the demands of the orchestra increased, the Prague Chamber Orchestra became independent of the Czechoslovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1965. The Prague Chamber Orchestra collaborates with conductors for special recording projects, though the standard model and philosophy of performance for the ensemble are conductorless. After the fall of communism, the musicians formed their own company, PKO Agency Ltd., and managed all critical operations of the ensemble. Founded in 1953, as an ensemble of Radio Zagreb, under the artistic leadership of the renowned cellist and conductor Antonio Janigro –
Zagreb Soloists have gained recognition as one of the world’s most prominent chamber orchestras.
1970s The
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1972 by cellist Julian Fifer and a group of fellow musicians who sought to incorporate chamber music techniques into orchestral playing. The orchestra has been conductorless since its inception and all members rotate leadership roles depending on the demands of the piece performed. In 1975,
cellist John Painter founded the
Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO). The ACO is a conductorless chamber orchestra led by concertmaster
Richard Tognetti, appointed artistic director and lead violin in 1990. The ACO functions as an ensemble of soloists and gravitates toward cross-genre programming. They perform on both modern and period instruments, in smaller chamber groups, as a chamber orchestra, and as an electro-acoustic collective. Referencing traditions, all musicians except cellists stand while performing.
1980s 3608 The was founded in 1988.
1990s The
New Century Chamber Orchestra is based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Founded in 1992, the first music director and concertmaster was
Stuart Canin. The orchestra has also been directed and led by concertmaster Krista Bennion Feeney. The current music director and concertmaster is
Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg. The New Century Chamber Orchestra's repertoire spans both traditional and contemporary repertoire. The ensemble regularly commissions new works and features cross-genre programs transcending jazz, rock, and classical styles. The New Century Chamber Orchestra is a string orchestra of 20 members (10 violins, 5 violas, 4 celli, 1 bass). Sometimes an orchestra that normally performs with a conductor will perform without one. The
New York Philharmonic traditionally performs the overture to
Candide without a conductor since the death of their Laureate Conductor,
Leonard Bernstein, in 1990.
Early 21st century The early 21st century saw a rise in the formation of conductorless chamber orchestras and
chamber music collaboratives.
A Far Cry, formed in early 2007, is a Boston-based chamber orchestra made up of 18 string players. A Far Cry describes itself as self-conducted and operates with rotating leadership and no conductor. All artistic decisions are made by vote, and the orchestra members handle all the artistic management and promotion of the ensemble. A Far Cry has close ties to the
New England Conservatory (NEC) as well as the
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, where it is ensemble-in-residence. , Strasbourg, with chamber orchestra performing The orchestra
Spira Mirabilis, formed in 2007, is a European classical orchestra functioning without a conductor. Polish symphonic orchestra
Sinfonia Varsovia hasn't had a permanent conductor since
Krzysztof Penderecki and
Marc Minkowski (since 2012). Similarly, hasn't had its permanent conductor since
Nigel Kennedy (since 2008). Both perform regularly without a conductor. == Leadership and management ==