The Imperial Symphony Orchestra, or the ISO, was the premier orchestra of the Galactic Empire. It was comprised of many of the Empire's most talented musicians. From approximately 15 BBY to 0 ABY, the prestigious group performed exclusively in the Core Worlds, as regions like the Mid Rim could not afford to host the orchestra for a variety of reasons. In 0 ABY, about seven months after an Imperial defeat in the Yavin system, the ISO journeyed to the Mid Rim for a series of performances, as firmly established New Order supporters had wiped away all previous impediments.
The ISO often performed music in line with the tastes of Emperor Palpatine.
A prestigious musical group, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra performed throughout the galaxy during the early years of the Galactic Empire under Emperor Palpatine. However, in around 15 BBY, the orchestra began playing exclusively in the Core Worlds after Mid Rim worlds could not, or simply refused, to pay the large sponsorship fees that the ISO charged for booking. Starting around 5 BBY, the orchestra participated in a five-year-long program dedicated to promoting the ideals of Imperial High Culture within the Core Worlds. Much of the music performed by the Orchestra were Neoclassical waltzes and marches, as they were favored by Palpatine.
By 0 ABY, about seven months after the Imperial defeat at the Battle of Yavin, situations in the Mid Rim had changed; many Mid Rim worlds had become dominated by pro-New Order regimes or led by strong Imperial governorships. As a result, many obstacles preventing the ISO from touring the region had largely been removed. Via the Imperial HoloVision news outlet, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra announced its first series of performances outside the Core Worlds in fifteen years. The Mid Rim tour was expected to feature many of the Emperor's favorite Neoclassical pieces, including works from the Harbin-re opera, some of Nabicci Futana's waltzes and ganther dances, and marches dating to the Clone Wars of nineteen years earlier. Senator Gaeriel Captison of Bakura enjoyed the soothing melodies of the ISO's work and listened to a recording of the orchestra one morning in 4 ABY.
The Imperial Symphony Orchestra, the premier group of its kind, drew upon the best musicians that the Empire had to offer.
The Imperial Symphony Orchestra was first mentioned in the 1994 novel The Truce at Bakura, written by Kathy Tyers.
- The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia