The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1951 by Samuel Samosud, a distinguished conductor of the Bolshoy Opera. Originally part of the All-Union Radio Committee, the orchestra was established primarily for the broadcasting of operatic music, and was given its current title in 1953. Under the direction of its founder the orchestra performed the works of many new Soviet composers and also gave concert performances of operas seldom heard by Soviet audiences. In 1958 Kiril Kondrashin, beginning a long-lasting relationship with the orchestra, conducted the ensemble during the first International Tchaikovsky Competition, and in 1960 was named music director, a post he held until 1975. Under Kondrashin’s direction, the Moscow Philharmonic toured extensively, participating in numerous festivals of modern music throughout the Soviet Union and in many of the world’s important music centres. In 1976, Dmitry Kitaenko was named music director of the Moscow Philharmonic, which gave, under his direction, the first performance in the Soviet Union of Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, and Messiaen’s Turangalîla Symphony. He resigned in 1990 and Vassily Sinaisky took over. In 1996, Mark Ermler was appointed chief conductor, and two years later he was succeeded by the eminent Russian conductor, Yuri Simonov. Dmitry Yablonsky was appointed principal guest conductor. The Moscow Philharmonic has made over a hundred recordings, many of which have been awarded some of the most coveted prizes. It has performed in over four thousand concerts.