2011The Pécs Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra is 200 years old - Set

"The Pécs Pannon Philharmonic Orchestra is the most significant representative of the rich musical history of the city. The legal predecessor of the orchestra was the Musical Artist Society (Tonkünstler Sozietät), which moved from Vienna in 1807 and which was founded by Johann Georg Lickl, a contemporary of Mozart and student of Haydn. The orchestra gave its first performance on 9 December 1811. Johann Georg Lickl, from Lower Austria, was a celebrated Vienna composer at the beginning of the 19th century. In 1806 the bishop of Pécs offered him the position of choirmaster in 1806. With his settling in Pécs the musical life of the town started to develop intensively. Over the years Viennese musicians were contracted here, and soon Hungary’s best orchestra was established. In the middle of the 1830-s even opera performances were given. The symphonic orchestra gave its performances under the name of “The Orchestra of the Free Royal Town of Pécs”. In keeping with traditions the Pécs Music Society was established in 1871, which satisfied the musical demands of the people of the town until the middle of the 20th century. After the break following the World War, the Pécs Symphonic Orchestra was founded, which gave its first concert on 6 March 1951. On 1 September 1956 the Pécs Philharmonic Orchestra started operation undertaking the role as the National Orchestra. The Pécs Symphonic Orchestra, as an independent artistic institution, was established in 1984, its proprietor since then being the County Town of Pécs. As of 1 September 2003 two groups of musicians have been carrying out the wide range of the orchestra’s tasks: a concert orchestra of 73 and a Sinfonietta of 23 artists, these tasks include the concert life of Pécs and the South Transdanubian Region and collaboration in the musical performances at the Pécs National Theatre. The professional renewal and development of quality were made possible by the conceptual work over two decades and the artists of outstanding ability contracted to the orchestra over the past ten years. As of 1 January 2004 they have continued their work with a new image and a new name: the Pannon Philharmonic. (Source: pfz.hu) The stamp image depicts the logo of the Pannon Philharmonic and a portrait of Johann Georg Lickl as an organic unit. The design on the first day cover shows the building and concert hall of the Kodály Centre in Pécs as well as a detail from a music manuscript written by Johann Georg Lickl. The main motif of the special cancellation stamp is Lickl’s signature"