Orchestrette Classique

Orchestrette Classique (changed to Orchestrette of New York)

Frédérique Petrides with the Orchestrette Classique. Courtesy of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Music Division, and The University of Arkansas Press
Formation	1932
Extinction	1943
Type	All women classical chamber orchestra
Purpose	To present little known works by classical masters and new works by American composers, and advance the status of women musicians
Headquarters	Manhattan, New York
Location	Manhattan, New York
Official language	English
Founder and conductor	Madame Frédérique Petrides
Main organ	Orchestrette Classique
Remarks	The Orchestrette gave five to six concerts annually in Carnegie Chamber Music Hall (now Weill Recital Hall), and premiered works by Samuel Barber, Paul Creston, David Diamond and others.

Orchestrette Classique, later called Orchestrette of New York (1932–1943) was an American chamber orchestra in New York made up of women musicians. It was founded in 1932 by conductor Frédérique Petrides (1903–1983), who served as conductor for the group until it ceased operations in 1943. She also founded the West Side Orchestral Concerts.

When, in 1933, Frédérique Petrides lifted her baton to give the first downbeat to the all-women instrumentalists of her Orchestrette Classique, this was an anomaly. Petrides was a pioneer, one of the first women orchestral conductors at a time when the idea of a woman wielding a baton was almost unthinkable.

On September 26, 1903, Frédérique Jeanne Elisabeth Petronella Mayer was born into a privileged life in Antwerp, Belgium. Her mother, Seraphine Sebrechts, an artist of many talents, was a well-known composer and pianist, as well as an accomplished painter and photographer. It was she who taught Frédérique theory and composition. And in 1923, the young musician emigrated to New York with the aim of becoming a conductor.

In 1931, she married journalist, Peter Petrides (Petros Agathangelos Petrides; 1896–1978), who wholeheartedly supported her career, and encouraged her to found the Orchestrette Classique, of which he became the manager and publicist. Frédérique Petrides had learned that, in the 1930s, the only avenue open to women conductors was to establish their own orchestras. And in 1933, she introduced the Orchestrette, an all-women chamber orchestra, which had, based on what was being played, thirty to forty players in the ensemble; and which gave five to six concerts annually in Carnegie Chamber Music Hall, now Weill Recital Hall.

During its twelve-year existence, the Orchestrette Classique, renamed the Orchestrette of New York in 1942, programmed little known works for small orchestra by established masters, and new work mainly by native and naturalized American composers.

Very little new music was being presented at the time and the Orchestrette premiered and played works by David Diamond (Concerto for Chamber Orchestra), commissionedNorman Dello Joio, Aaron Copland (Quiet City), Samuel Barber (Adagio for Strings), New York PremierePaul Creston (Partita for Flute and Violin with String Orchestra and Concerto for Marimba with Orchestra), concerto commissionedJulia Smith (Episodic Suite), commissionedUlric Cole (Two Sketches for String Orchestra),Henry Cowell, American Melting Pot, Movement 1 Chorale: (Teutonic-American), world premiereGian Carlo Menotti (Pastorale), Ralph Vaughan Williams, (Flos Campi), US Premiere and others.