MUSIC DIRECTOR ANDREAS DELFS ON CENTENNIAL SIGNIFICANCE
One of community’s "greatest accomplishments"
Q: The origins of the Royal Danish Orchestra date back to 1448, making it the oldest professional symphony on the books — at nearly 575 years old. And other European orchestras, in relative terms, are not far behind it. The oldest orchestra in the US is the 180-year-old New York Philharmonic.
So, why is the RPO’s 100th such a big deal?
Maestro Delfs: I think a centennial is a milestone for everybody and anybody. But for an orchestra, especially for an American orchestra, it’s incredibly important.
Remember, American orchestras were not started like most European orchestras – by some king, a count, some aristocracy. And they had their own struggles, [when nobility was challenged] during the Age of Enlightenment and the French Revolution. All of that changed.
Now, the litmus test is when the great founders of American orchestras, in our case George Eastman, aren’t around anymore to take care of them. Would the community [take care of them]? Would those who take over the helm of community pride, as George Eastman exemplified? Would they be able to carry on that way?
Many American orchestras didn’t survive that period.
So, to reach a 100-year milestone shows, very clearly, an orchestra is embraced by far beyond its original group of founders, or individual founder, and by the whole community.
That’s why I think when you reach that milestone, 100 years, it’s one of the greatest accomplishments a community can achieve, to say, “We have had this performing arts group for so long, because we believe it in, and we will continue to support it.”
(Maestro Delfs’s response was edited for content and clarity.)
