The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra came under the leadership of several accomplished conductors over the decades, among them Eugene Goossens, José Iturbi, Erich Leinsdorf, David Zinman, and Christopher Seaman. Through its tours, which included appearances at Carnegie Hall, and its extensive catalog of recordings, the ensemble established a reputation alongside other major American orchestras. Its discs in particular continue to reach listeners well beyond the Rochester, New York region.
George Eastman established the Rochester Philharmonic in 1922. Eugene Goossens assumed the role of music director when he arrived in the United States in 1923. His regular engagements with other American orchestras helped draw notice to the newly formed Rochester symphony. During his eight-year tenure the RPO made steady advances before Goossens departed for Cincinnati in 1931. José Iturbi, pianist and conductor, arrived for the 1936-1937 season after leading guest programs the year before; he remained music director until 1947. His time with the orchestra generated public debate over remarks widely viewed as disparaging toward women and statements the press interpreted as sympathetic to Fascism, keeping his profile prominent for reasons unrelated to music in the years before World War II. Erich Leinsdorf succeeded Iturbi, arriving from the Cleveland Orchestra. David Zinman later made his mark in Rochester before relocating to Baltimore. Additional distinguished visitors who have conducted the RPO include Fritz Reiner, Sir Thomas Beecham, Leonard Bernstein, and Leopold Stokowski. Christopher Seaman was appointed music director in 1997, bringing prior experience as principal conductor of both the BBC Scottish Symphony and the Northern Sinfonia. He held the post until 2011, at which point he received the title of conductor laureate. Arild Remmereit served from 2011 to 2013, and Ward Stare was named music director in 2014.
The RPO presents more than 140 concerts annually to a range of audiences. Alongside its subscription symphony series, a pops program has expanded under principal pops conductor Jeff Tyzik. To meet educational and community needs across greater Rochester, the orchestra maintains a principal conductor position devoted to education and outreach—the first such post created by any major American orchestra. Michael Butterman occupied that role from 2000 to 2018. Collectively, RPO performances reach more than 350,000 listeners each season, a substantial number of whom are attending an orchestral concert for the first time.
The orchestra has made recordings for Vox, Harmonia Mundi, and Azica. On the last of these labels, the RPO issued American Rapture in 2019 under Ward Stare with harpist Yolanda Kondonassis; the album received a Grammy Award.
