This collection will be a changing gallery of photographs and interesting memorabilia from the Archives of the Minnesota Orchestra. It will not constitute an actual history of the Orchestra, but rather a glimpse into some of the fascinating items found in the archives. For further information about the Orchestra, please consult the list of published materials at the end of the page.
[Click on images to enlarge]
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AND SO IT BEGINS...Elbert L. Carpenter and 49 others pledged to guaranty funding for the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, organized by The Philharmonic Club of Minneapolis. This assured the necessary financial support to establish the new musical organization. |
| November 5, 1903 was the occasion of the first concert by the new Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, conducted by the exciting young Emil Oberhoffer. |
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The evening included works by Wagner, Schubert, and Liszt and featured the "star soprano" Marcella Sembrich. |
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"The Orchestra On Wheels" Oberhoffer began touring with his young Orchestra in 1907 and in 1912 they made their Carnegie Hall debut. This postcard was an advertising medium, sent to interested friends. Clicking on the image brings up a larger image of the card, plus an image of the verso of the card, which contains a postmark and stamp — we only wonder if it served its purpose! |
| Henri Verbrugghen became music director of the Orchestra in 1923. Under his leadership the Orchestra made its first recordings and its first radio performances. He also hired the first female member of the Orchestra, Jenny Cullen, who had been his student in Scotland and was a member of his orchestra in Australia. This photograph of the Verbrugghen Quartet includes Henri on the left with Cullen at his side. |
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During the height of the Second World War, Orchestra music director Dimitri Mitropoulos brought renowned guest artists to Northrop Auditorium to appear with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. Or, as this season prospectus states: "An incomparable array of the foremost interpretative artists and musical personalities will add lustre and variety to the symphony concerts of this coming season." |
Copyright
Reproduction or use of any materials in which the Minnesota Orchestral Association holds copyright, shall be performed only with the written permission of the MOA except for reproduction or use of any published materials of the Association in the public domain.
In mounting this exhibit every attempt was made to secure permission to use materials from copyright holders other than the Orchestral Association. We would be interested to hear from any copyright owners who are not properly identified so that appropriate information may be provided in the future.
Books About the Minnesota Orchestra:
The Minnesota Orchestra Archives are located within the Manuscripts Division at the University of Minnesota Libraries.
Please contact mssref@umn.edu about this site.
URL: http://special.lib.umn.edu//manuscripts/orchestra/history/history.html
Last updated: 14-December-2004