Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

One of the foremost ensembles performing before global audiences, the Berliner Philharmoniker—likewise recognized as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra—came into existence in Imperial Germany during 1882. Its stature rose markedly once Hans von Bülow assumed the podium in 1887, an elevation further advanced by an array of distinguished visitors that included Johannes Brahms, Edvard Grieg, Gustav Mahler, and Richard Strauss. The ensemble endured the destruction of its hall and the absence of its leader amid World War II, then flourished for more than three decades under Herbert von Karajan, whose leadership spanned 1956 to 1989 and yielded Grammy Awards in both opera and orchestral categories. Claudio Abbado succeeded him from 1989 to 2002, a period that brought five additional Grammys, among them Best Orchestral Recording for a 1979 Mahler Symphony No. 9 led by Leonard Bernstein and released in 1992. In 2008, during Simon Rattle’s tenure, the orchestra launched its Digital Concert Hall, enabling worldwide streaming of performances either in real time or on demand. Kirill Petrenko assumed the role of tenth principal conductor in 2019.

Fifty musicians who had formerly played under Benjamin Bilse formed the original roster after departing over inadequate compensation and arduous touring arrangements. Initially known as the Frühere Bilsesche Kapelle, the group appointed Ludwig von Brenner its first principal conductor. In 1887 the players restructured and adopted the name Berliner Philharmoniker upon engaging the celebrated Hans von Bülow. A former pupil of Franz Liszt, von Bülow helped elevate the standing of composers such as Brahms and Wagner at the outset of their careers and engaged prominent guests that included Hans Richter, Richard Strauss, and Gustav Mahler. Arthur Nikisch held the post from 1895 to 1922, followed by Wilhelm Furtwängler, who served 1922–1934 and again 1952–1954 while maintaining programs that balanced established favorites with newer voices. Furtwängler resigned in 1934 after the National Socialist regime blocked the world premiere of Paul Hindemith’s opera Mathis der Maler. The orchestra persisted through the war years under a succession of leaders and relocated to temporary spaces once the Berliner Philharmonie was lost in a January 1944 bombing raid. Following the Nazi surrender in May 1945, Leo Borchard was installed as conductor, a post he occupied only briefly before being fatally shot by an occupation soldier that August; Sergiu Celibidache then directed the ensemble until 1952, after which Furtwängler returned until his death in 1954.

Herbert von Karajan was named principal conductor in 1956; his thirty-three-year stewardship, markedly more stable than the wartime era, further enhanced the orchestra’s renown. The second Philharmonie opened in 1963 with a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony under his direction. The ensemble received its first Grammy in 1970 for Best Opera Recording—Wagner’s Siegfried, conducted by Karajan—and a second in 1979 for Best Orchestral Performance of Beethoven’s complete symphonies, again with Karajan. He stepped down in April 1989 and died three months later. Claudio Abbado, who had already appeared frequently as a guest, took the helm in late 1989 and remained until 2002, during which time the orchestra captured Grammys for Best Orchestral Recording (1993), Best Chamber Music Performance (1995), Best Small Ensemble Performance (1998, conducted by Abbado), Best Classical Vocal Performance (2000, also under Abbado), and Best Orchestral Performance (2001). Sir Simon Rattle had led the 2001 Grammy-winning account of Mahler’s Symphony No. 10; he succeeded Abbado the following year. In 2003 and 2005 the orchestra reached the European Top 40 with Moment of Glory, recorded alongside the rock group the Scorpions, and Vivaldi II, featuring violinist Nigel Kennedy. Its eighth Grammy arrived in 2007 for Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos 1 & 2 with pianist Leif Ove Andsnes. In 2013 the ensemble charted in Spain with Prokofiev 3 Bartok 2, again spotlighting an award-winning soloist, Lang Lang. Rattle continued as conductor until 2018.

Early in January 2019 an archival release of the Nutcracker Suite with Mstislav Rostropovich placed the Berlin Philharmonic on the Billboard 200. Later that year Kirill Petrenko, then General Music Director of the Bavarian State Opera, commenced his appointment as principal conductor.