Berliner Philharmoniker
The Berliner Philharmoniker was founded in 1882 as a
self-governing body and has long been considered one of
the world’s finest orchestras. Its current artistic director
is Sir Simon Rattle, who took up his appointment in
September 2002.
The orchestra gave its first concert on October 17, 1882
under the conductor Ludwig von Brenner, who was chosen by
the musicians themselves.The concert agent Hermann Wolff
took over the management of the orchestra in 1887 and
signed up the conductor Hans von Bülow, who went on to
turn the Berliner Philharmoniker into one of the leading
orchestras in Germany. Under Arthur Nikisch
(1895–1922) its repertory grew to include works by
Bruckner, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, Strauss, Ravel and Debussy.
On Nikisch’s death, the then thirty-six-year-old Wilhelm
Furtwängler took over as principal conductor. Furtwängler
concentrated on the Classical and German Romantic repertories
but also performed contemporary pieces by Stravinsky,
Bartók and Prokofiev. At the end of the Second World War,
Leo Borchard became the orchestra’s principal conductor, but, following his tragic death in August 1945 when he was accidentally shot by an American patrol, the
young Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache became
artistic director. Furtwängler was able to resume his old post
as chief conductor following his denazification in 1952.
When he died in 1954, the players chose Herbert von
Karajan as their permanent conductor and artistic director.
During the decades that followed, Karajan worked with the
orchestra to develop a unique tonal quality and performing
style that made the Berliner Philharmoniker famous all over
the world. In October 1989 the players appointed Claudio
Abbado their new principal conductor. Abbado devised a
new type of programme, contrasting traditional programmes
with thematic cycles that included contemporary works
alongside classical pieces. An increased number of chamber
recitals and concert performances of operas lent further
distinction and variety to the orchestra’s activities.
With the appointment of Sir Simon Rattle, the orchestra
succeeded not only in obtaining the services of one of the
most successful conductors of the younger generation but
in introducing a number of important innovations.
The orchestra’s change of status to a charitable foundation
(the Stiftung Berliner Philharmoniker) has created new
opportunities and ensured the economic future of a body
of players that currently has 129 full-time members.
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