National Symphony Orchestra

National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), American symphony orchestra based in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1931 by Hans Kindler, who served as its first music director (1931–49). Subsequent directors have been Howard Mitchell (1949–69), Hungarian-born American Antal Dorati (1970–77), distinguished Russian cellist Mstislav Rostropovich (1977–94), Leonard Slatkin (music director-designate, 1994–96; music director, 1996–2008), and Christoph Eschenbach (2010–17). Gianandrea Noseda assumed the music directorship in 2017. As the orchestra of the capital of the United States,...