Mit seiner Liste der zwanzig besten Orchester der Welt hat das britische Magazin «Gramophone» für Diskussionen gesorgt. Gewissermaßen als Ausgleich legt es nun eine Liste von zehn Orchestern vor, deren soziales Engagement als außergewöhnlich inspiriert erlebt wird.
Zur Zusamenstellung der Liste hat die «Gramophone»-Redaktion reisende Solisten wie Sarah Chang, Julian Lloyd Webber, Natalie Clein, Cyprien Katsaris, Yevgeny Sudbin, Philippe Graffin und Xuefei Yang befragt.
Den tiefsten Eindruck hinterlassen haben bei diesen folgende Ensembles und Orchesterprojekte in beliebiger Reihenfolge: Das YouTube Symphony Orchestra, weil es die klassische Musik global demokratisiert; das Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra, weil es die Lebensumstände in seinem Umfeld verbessert; das Royal Philharmonic Orchestra mit «Engage»-Programm, das Musik an ungewöhnliche Orte führt.
Das China Philharmonic Orchestra, weil es die klassische Musik praktisch im Alleingang einem Milliardenvolk näherbringt; das in Soweto beheimatete Buskaid Ensemble, das mit Kindern südafrikanischer Townships arbeitet.
Das East West Divan Orchestra, weil es die Kulturen des Nahen Ostens zusammenbringt und das Orchestre National d’Ile de France, das ebenso in einer Renault-Fabrik aufspielt wie in Gymnasien der Pariser Vorstädte.
Und hier das Ranking aus dem Magazin „Gramophone“ im Wortlaut:
The YouTube Symphony Orchestra
For democratising classical music on a global scale, making it truly all-inclusive.
The Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra
From Venezuela, the flag-bearers for the ideal of using music to improve people’s lives.
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
One of the first big movers in the education field, their “Engage” programme is hugely innovative and lively, bringing music to unusual venues and working with arts groups from other genres.
The China Philharmonic Orchestra
For almost single-handedly bringing Western classical music to the ears and hearts of a vast nation, for whom it had been forbidden for decades. They have taken it upon themselves to educate the country, and (alongside others) are making a pretty good job of it.
The Buskaid Ensemble
The Soweto-based string orchestra that was founded by (Britain-based) busking musicians, works to bring music to children in South Africa’s townships.
The East West Divan Orchestra
Daniel Barenboim wasn’t the first to use music to bring different cultures together in the Middle East, but his orchestra is by far the highest-profile of these efforts and has helped to focus attention on the willingness of people on all sides to work together and form friendships.
Orchestre National d’Ile de France
The Paris-based orchestra for whom performing in deeply unusual venues, from the Renault factory to gymnasiums in usually-overlooked Paris suburbs – all in the name of bringing music to those who wouldn’t usually hear it – is par for the course.
The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
One of the most exciting and active movers in outreach and education programmes.
The London Symphony Orchestra
The LSO has shown a commitment to outreach beyond almost any other orchestra, building a state-of-the-art facility in St Luke’s church on the edge of the City – including satellite link-up capabilities and a fully-equipped gamelan room.
The New York Philharmonic Orchestra
The NYPO has been bold in its cultural diplomacy, courting controversy to be sure with their visit to North Korea last year and this year following up with a trip to Vietnam. There’s no mistaking the seriousness with which they view their mission.