The Orchestra della Svizzera italiana has existed under its
present name since 1991. It had earlier been established in Lugano in 1935 as
the Orchestra of Italian Swiss Radio and Television, then an ensemble of some
thirty players, based on a smaller group that had worked with the Italian Swiss
Radio since its foundation in Lugano in 1933. Directed initially by Leopoldo
Casella, who continued his association until 1968, the orchestra had Otmar Nussio,
who was for many years head of the music section of Radio Svizzera italiana,
as principal conductor from 1938 to 1968. The period brought a broadening of
interest in contemporary music, developed further with Edwin Loehrer, chorus-master
from 1937 to 1981. From 1969 to 1990 the permanent conductor was Marc Andreae,
with a similar encouragement of contemporary music, particularly the work of
Swiss composers. The orchestra has collaborated with musicians of the greatest
distinction, including Mascagni, Honegger, Wolf-Ferrari, Milhaud, Hindemith,
Frank Martin, Luciano Rerio, Hans Werner Henze and Stravinsky. It was for this
orchestra that Richard Strauss, in 1947, wrote his Duet-Concertino in F major,
Op. 147. The orchestra has also played under the direction of the greatest
conductors of the century, including Ansermet, Stokowski, Ormandy, Markevitch,
Monteux and many others. In addition to its work in the concert-hall and broadcasting
studio at home, the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana has appeared at international
festivals and in major musical centres throughout Europe.
