Montreal Symphony Orchestra
The Montreal Symphony Orchestra, or Orchestre symphonique de Montreal, is one of Canada's major orchestras. As its name suggests, it is based in Montreal.There have been a number of organisations with this name, including one formed in 1897 which lasted ten years, and another formed in 1930 which lasted eleven. The current orchestra, however, traces its roots back to 1935, when Wilfrid Pelletier formed an ensemble called Les Concerts Symphoniques. It changed to its current name in 1954.
Principal conductorss of the orchestra have included Otto Klemperer (1950-53), Zubin Mehta (1961-67) and Charles Dutoit (1978-2002). In March 2003, the orchestra announced that Kent Nagamo will be its new principal conductor starting in 2006 with a contract running to 2012. Nagano will be the musical adviser to principal guest conductor Jacques Lacombe for the next two years.
The orchestra won a Grammy award in 1996 for their recording of Hector Berlioz' Les Troyens. It has also won a number of Juno Awards.