Editing Philadelphia Orchestra (section)

===20th century===
[[File:Fritz Scheel.jpg|thumb|[[Fritz Scheel]], founding father and first conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra]]
[[Image:Leopold Stokowski LOC 26447u.jpg|thumb|[[Leopold Stokowski]], the Philadelphia Orchestra's music director from 1912 to 1938]]
In 1900, the Philadelphia Orchestra was founded in 1900 by [[Fritz Scheel]], who also acted as its first [[Conducting|conductor]]. The orchestra had its beginnings with a small group of musicians led by the pianist F. Cresson Schell (1857–1942).<ref name="etude">{{cite news| title=The World of Music| url=http://www.etudemagazine.com/etude/1921/03/the-world-of-music-2.html| work=[[The Etude]]| date=March 1921| access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref> In 1904, [[Richard Strauss]] guest conducted the orchestra in a program of his compositions, and in 1906 the Polish pianist [[Arthur Rubinstein]] made his American debut with the orchestra. Additionally in 1906, the orchestra traveled to the [[White House]] to perform in a concert.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Musical Events at the White House |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/musical-events-at-the-white-house |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=WHHA (en-US) |language=en}}</ref>

In February 1907, [[Leandro Campanari]] took over and served as interim conductor for a short time during Scheel's illness and after his death.<ref name="campanari">{{cite news| url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1907/02/19/106740774.pdf| work=[[The New York Times]]| date=February 18, 1907| title=Campanari at Rehearsal| access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref> A flutist in the orchestra, August Rodemann, stood in before Campanari's arrival. He started sabotaging the performances and Campanari was obliged to remove himself from a bad situation.<ref name=grot>{{cite news| author=Daniel Grotta-Kurska| title=Music: Is There a Maestro in the Wings?| url=http://www.phillymag.com/articles/music-is-there-a-maestro-in-the-wings/| work=[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]]| date=June 1974| access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref>

In 1907, [[Karl Pohlig]] became music director and served until 1912. New music he programmed was unpopular with audiences, and revelations that he had an extra-marital affair with his secretary caused outrage. The orchestra cancelled his contract and gave him a year's salary ($12,000) in severance to avoid a suit from Pohlig alleging a conspiracy to oust him.<ref name=grot/><ref name="pohlig">{{cite news |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1912/06/12/100538749.pdf| title=Carl Pohlig Got $12,000| work=The New York Times| date=June 12, 1912| access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref>

[[Leopold Stokowski]] became music director in 1912, and brought the orchestra to national prominence. Before Stokowski's arrival, the orchestra was modeled after European standards, much like other major United States orchestras at the time. Stokowski and the orchestra were one of the first to break free from this, and together they created a new sound that is still respected and mimicked today. Under his guidance, the orchestra gained a reputation for their richness, strength, virtuosity, and blend, particularly in the strings. Stokowski was able to achieve this through [[free bowing]] along with his unique baton-less conducting style.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ardoin |first=John |title=The Philadelphia Orchestra: a century of music |date=1999 |publisher=Temple university press |isbn=978-1-56639-712-4 |location=Philadelphia, [Pennsylvania]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Stearns |first=David Patrick |date=2015-09-30 |title=In Philadelphia’s Legendary Sound, A Mutable Truth {{!}} Classical Voice North America |url=https://classicalvoiceamerica.org/2015/09/30/the-philadelphia-orchestra-sound/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> He was also the first to implement the seating plan used by the majority of orchestras today.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Opperby |first=Preben |title=Leopold Stokowski |last2=Stokowski |first2=Leopold |date=1982 |publisher=Midas Books [u.a.] |isbn=978-0-88254-658-2 |series=Great performers series |location=Tunbridge Wells}}</ref> These characteristics became known as the "Philadelphia Sound." Stokowski left the orchestra in 1941, and did not return as a guest conductor for nearly 20 years.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

[[File:Philadelphia Orchestra at American premiere of Mahler's 8th Symphony (1916).jpg|thumb|The Philadelphia Orchestra on stage with Stokowski for the American premiere of Mahler's [[Symphony No. 8 (Mahler)|Eighth Symphony]] in March 1916]]
In 1936, [[Eugene Ormandy]] joined the organization, and jointly held the post of principal conductor with Stokowski until 1938 when he became its sole music director. He remained as music director until 1980, after which he became Conductor Laureate. Ormandy conducted many of the orchestra's best-known recordings and took the orchestra on its historic 1973 tour of the [[People's Republic of China]], making it the first Western orchestra to visit the country.<ref name="webster">{{cite news| author=Daniel Webster| title=Learning Chinese| url=http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/7554.html | work=[[Playbill|Playbill Arts]]| date=February 1, 2008| access-date=February 2, 2008}}</ref> The tour was highly successful and it has since returned for thirteen additional successful tours.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[Riccardo Muti]] became principal guest conductor of the orchestra in the 1970s, and assumed the role as Music Director from Ormandy in 1980, serving through 1992. His recordings with the orchestra included the symphonies of [[Ludwig van Beethoven]], [[Johannes Brahms]], and [[Alexander Scriabin]], for the EMI and Philips labels.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

[[Wolfgang Sawallisch]] succeeded Muti as music director from 1993 to 2003. He made a number of recordings with the orchestra of music of [[Robert Schumann]], [[Richard Strauss]] and [[Richard Wagner]], among other composers, for the EMI label. However, the orchestra lost its recording contract with EMI during this time, which led to a musicians' strike for 64 days in 1996.<ref name="kozinn">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/17/arts/strike-in-philadelphia-what-stopped-the-music.html?scp=13&sq=&pagewanted=all| title=Strike in Philadelphia: What Stopped the Music| work=The New York Times| author=Allan Kozinn| date= September 17, 1996| access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref><ref name="tommasini">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/28/arts/philadelphians-after-strike-offer-a-violinist-s-debut.html| title=Philadelphians, After Strike, Offer a Violinist's Debut| work=The New York Times| author=Anthony Tommasini |author-link=Anthony Tommasini | date=November 28, 1996| access-date=July 19, 2013}}</ref> Near the end of Sawallisch's tenure, the orchestra released a self-produced set of recordings of the Schumann symphonies with Sawallisch conducting. In 2003, Sawallisch was named Conductor Laureate, and held the title until his death in 2013.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}