Berlin Philharmonic

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Berliner Philharmoniker

Background information
Also known as Berlin Philharmonic
Origin Berlin, Germany
Genre(s) Classical
Occupation(s) Symphony orchestra
Years active 1887-present
Website www.Berliner-Philharmoniker.de
Members
Principal Conductor
Simon Rattle
Pianist-in-Residence
András Schiff
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Former members
Founder
Ludwig von Brenner
Notable instrument(s)
Concert Organ
Karl Schuke, Berlin IV-72

The Berliner Philharmoniker (Berlin Philharmonic), is one of the world's leading orchestras. Its current principal conductor is Sir Simon Rattle, known for his championing of contemporary classical music. The BPO also supports several chamber music ensembles.

The funding for the organization is subsidized by the city of Berlin and a partnership with Deutsche Bank.

Contents

Entrance to the concert hall.
Entrance to the concert hall.

The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in Berlin in spring 1882 by 54 musicians under the name Frühere Bilsesche Kapelle (former Bilse's Band); the group broke away after their previous conductor Benjamin Bilse announced his intention of taking the band on a fourth class train to Warsaw for a concert. The orchestra was given its current name and reorganized under the financial management of Hermann Wolff in 1887. Its first conductor under the new organization was Ludwig von Brenner; in 1887 Hans von Bülow, one of the most esteemed conductors in the world, joined, and from then on, the orchestra's reputation became established, with guests Hans Richter, Felix von Weingartner, Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms and Edvard Grieg conducting the orchestra over the next few years.

In 1895, Arthur Nikisch became chief conductor, and was succeeded in 1923 by Wilhelm Furtwängler. Despite several changes in leadership the orchestra continued to perform throughout World War II. After Furtwängler fled to Switzerland in 1945, Leo Borchard became chief conductor. This arrangement lasted only a few months, however, as Borchard was accidentally shot and killed by American forces occupying Berlin. Sergiu Celibidache then took over as chief conductor for seven years, from 1945 to 1952. Furtwängler returned in 1952 and conducted the orchestra until his death in 1954.

His successor was Herbert von Karajan, who led the orchestra from 1955 until 1989, resigning only months before his death in April of that year. Under him, the orchestra made a vast number of recordings and toured widely.

Claudio Abbado became principal conductor after him, expanding the orchestra's repertoire beyond the core classical and romantic works into more modern 20th century works. He stepped down from this post in 2002. During the post-unification period, the orchestra encountered financial problems resulting from budgetary stress in the city of Berlin.[1] Several years after his departure as chief conductor, in 2006, the Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic established the Claudio Abbado Composition Prize in Abbado's honour.[2]

Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Sir Simon Rattle conducting the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

In June 1999, the musicians elected Sir Simon Rattle as their next chief conductor.[3] Rattle made it a condition of his signing with the Berlin Philharmonic that it be turned into a self-governing public foundation, with the power to make its own artistic and financial decisions. This required a change to state law, which was approved in 2001, allowing him to join the organization in 2002. The current Intendantin of the orchestra is Pamela Rosenberg.

In 2006, the orchestra announced it would investigate its role during the Nazi regime.[4] In 2007, Misha Aster published the book The Reich's Orchestra, his study of the relationship of the Berlin Philharmonic to the rulers of the Third Reich.[5]

The first concert hall of the orchestra was destroyed during WWII in 1944. The new Berliner Philharmonie was built in 1963 by architect Hans Scharoun at the Kulturforum.

UNICEF appointed the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Sir Simon Rattle as Goodwill Ambassador in November 2007.[6]

Classical BRIT Awards
  • 2001 - "Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year" - Sir Simon Rattle, Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (EMI, 2000)
  • 2003 - "Ensemble/Orchestral Album of the Year" - Sir Simon Rattle, Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (EMI, 2002)
Grammy Awards
Gramophone Awards
  • 1981 - "Orchestral Record of the Year" - Herbert von Karajan, Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (DGG, 1980)
  • 1984 - "Record of the Year" - Herbert von Karajan, Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (DGG, 1984; live recording 1982)
  • 2000 - "Orchestral Record of the Year" - Sir Simon Rattle, Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (EMI, 2000)
  • 2004 - "Concerto" - Mariss Jansons, Leif Ove Andsnes, Grieg: Piano Concerto and Schumann: Piano Concerto (EMI, 2004)
  • 2006 - "Record of the Year" - Claudio Abbado, Mahler: Symphony No. 6 (DGG, 2005)
ECHO (formerly Deutscher Schallplattenpreis) of Deutsche Phono-Akademie
Timbre de Platine (Platinum Stamp) awarded by Opéra International magazine [1]
  • 1987 - Riccardo Muti, Mozart: Requiem (EMI, 1987)

  1. ^ Kate Connolly. "Band of no gold", The Guardian, 10 November 1999. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  2. ^ Matthew Westphal. "Berlin Philharmonic Names Winner of First Claudio Abbado Composition Prize", Playbill Arts, 6 November 2006. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
  3. ^ Andrew Clements. "Picking up the baton", The Guardian, 24 June 1999. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  4. ^ Agence France-Presse. "Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to probe Nazi-era history", European Jewish Express, 01 May 2007. Retrieved on 2007-08-17. 
  5. ^ Tony Paterson. "Berlin Philharmonic 'was obedient servant of Hitler'", The Independent, 28 August 2007. Retrieved on 2007-09-01. 
  6. ^ UNICEF: UNICEF appoints Berliner Philharmoniker Goodwill Ambassador 2007-11-17.

v • d • e
Berliner Philharmoniker Principal Conductors

Ludwig von Brenner (1882) • Hans von Bülow (1887) • Arthur Nikisch (1895) • Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922) • Leo Borchard (1945) • Sergiu Celibidache (1945) • Wilhelm Furtwängler (1952) • Herbert von Karajan (1954) • Claudio Abbado (1989) • Simon Rattle (2002)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Philharmonic"
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