Orchestra 2001 is one of America's most important and widely respected 20th-century music ensembles. Since its creation in 1988, Orchestra 2001’s mission has been
• accessibility for a wide audience to the masterpieces of the 20th century and to exciting recent music
• first performances of music by outstanding Philadelphia-area composers
• vitality, imagination, and dedication to performances of the highest aesthetic quality
Performances of the highest quality have won for it a devoted and constantly growing audience in its home city of Philadelphia, and enthusiastic praise from critics in Europe and America. As Philadelphia Inquirer critic Peter Dobrin wrote, "The group occupies a place of such importance that a classical music community without it seems unimaginable." In 1993 and 1994, the ensemble was invited to serve as the Moscow Conservatory's Ensemble-in-Residence during its Festival of American Music. In 1997 Orchestra 2001 returned to Russia to be the featured ensemble at St. Petersburg's "Sound Waves" International Festival of Contemporary Music. Our concerts in Russia have led to an extraordinary series of on-going collaborative projects with musicians in both Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Founded and directed by conductor/pianist/ bassist James Freeman, Orchestra 2001 is generally a one-on-a-part ensemble. The core personnel numbers fifteen musicians, but many concerts involve additional players, often making the ensemble into a 30 piece chamber orchestra. Orchestra 2001's repertoire is devoted almost entirely to music of the 20th century, especially by American composers and with particular emphasis on recent music by Philadelphians. We have established two different concert series: one at center-city Philadelphia venues and another at Lang Concert Hall, Swarthmore College, where Orchestra 2001 in Ensemble-in-Residence. |
