Benacian Philharmonic Orchestra
The Benacian Philharmonic Orchestra was assembled in early 1705 AN at Chryse from amongst nominated members of music bands attached to units of the Benacian Union Defence Force who had demonstrated a baseline level of proficiency in drums, flutes, or trumpets. There was no individual to be found in Chryse, Ardashirshahr, Cortallia-Rathwood, or Merensk, who had the requisite experience of conducting such an assemblage - the musical tradition of Elwynn having effectively died with the Scouring - and the decision was made to send an agent to Northcliff to engage the services of a Florian to perform this role. A careful check of the Panopticon database of protected persons was also made in order to establish whether any composers had survived the war, this being somewhat undermined by the tendency of prisoners to lie about their professions in order to appear "useful" during the sifting process. Finally agents were sent into Hurmu, Ransenar, Sanama, and Shireroth to recruit pianists, violinists, and a harp player.
Pending the consolidation of a properly functioning orchestra, a tribune from the civil executive of Chryse was delegated the task of ensuring pay and rations for the musicians thus far assembled, and to obtain by requisition some suitable premises to serve as a barracks and rehearsal space. A very private equity firm was pleased to donate a sizeable sum towards this effort, as part of its corporate social responsibility obligations.
Attempts to recruit Víkingur Ólafsson, the accomplished pianist who had represented the Benacian Union at Microvision 2021, had been stymied by the discovery that he was amongst those who had been approved for resettlement in Apollonian Hurmu and who was now refusing to answer calls from the Benacian legation in Ghawlama.
The ranks of the BPO were however soon after to be swelled by the arrival of a contingent of fiddlers from the Siyachia. These had been sent as part of a delegation of cultural performers by the Prince in the hope that he would not share in the fate of the king of Naudia'Diva for failing to deliver the requisite tribute payments in full and on time. The players were duly pressed into service and the Prince of the Yehudi was spared for another year.
In 1710 AN the BPO transferred from its temporary barracks accommodation into the Chrysean Opera House.
In I.1724 AN, the N&H-Chryse national sector party officer Wolfgang Handelsbach was appointed to the position of Director following the removal of his predecessor. Handelsbach came to the role as a relative unknown, having previously served as an administrator in the Civil Executive of the city. In favour of his appointment was a study of musicology undertaken in the Benacian Academy, and an audience with the High Commissioner of Chryse at the Palace of Botha, where he had performed to her satisfaction.
