The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra

Founded in the mid 1800’s, The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the Royal Irish Academy of Music, represented the pillars of Irish classical music life at a time when Dublin, after London, was considered the most vibrant and distinctive city in the British Isles.
Led for many years by Philip Michael Levenston, from one of Dublin’s most prominent Jewish musical families, The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vice-Regal Orchestra presented regular classical concerts in the city of Dublin, now famed for its hosting of the premier of Handel’s “Messiah.” 
With the advent of both the war of independence from Britain (commencing with what has become known as the Easter Rising of 1916) and the ensuing Irish civil war, many of Ireland’s professional classes emigrated to England and the United States, and Dublin’s classical music life suffered greatly with the cessation of activities of The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vice-Regal Orchestra.  Following the foundation of the Irish Free State and subsequently the Republic of Ireland, classical music was revitalized through the establishment of the Irish National Broadcaster, Radio Telefis Eireann, which, in turn, formed both the RTE Symphony Orchestra (presenting music of the great classical masters), and the RTE Light Orchestra (whose function was to serve as the broadcaster’s “house” orchestra providing music of a more popular/commercial genre).  These two orchestras were later renamed the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland and the RTE Concert Orchestra.
In 1997 The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra was reconstituted under the direction of Irish Music Director Derek Gleeson, drawing its members from the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, the RTE Concert Orchestra, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and international musicians from throughout Europe.  The reconstituted Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra gave its premier concert during the 1997 Kilkenny Arts Festival at the great 13th century Norman cathedral, “St. Canices” in the ancient city of Kilkenny, once the seat of Irish government and Norman nobility.  Since then, the orchestra has performed throughout Ireland, including performances for Her Excellency President Mary McAlese at “Aras an Uachtaran” (the Irish “White House”).  In addition to presenting standard classical music repertoire, The Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra has also premiered the works of contemporary composers.  Under Maestro Gleeson, the orchestra has recorded classical and modern repertoire for commercial record companies, including Albany Records (U.S.A.), BMG/Windham Hill Records, and Contemporary Music Centre of Ireland Record Productions, and has recorded film scores for motion pictures and television.