Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

Dating its origins to the years immediately following World War II, the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin began life as a broadcast ensemble before developing into a prominent concert organization. Its roster of principal conductors has drawn talent from multiple countries, and the ensemble has regularly incorporated new music into its programs.

The American military authorities governing West Berlin created the foundation for the group when they launched the RIAS (Radio in the American Sector) station in 1946. That broadcaster formed an orchestra which, by 1948, had become firmly established and had appointed its inaugural permanent conductor, the Hungarian Ferenc Fricsay, who held the post through 1954. Mid-decade political pressures that enforced cultural division between West and East Berlin produced several years of uncertainty for the ensemble. In 1956 it received the name Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; only after reunification did it adopt its present title, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, in 1993.

Fricsay rejoined the orchestra from 1959 to 1963, emphasizing the music of Bartók and thereby helping to widen the composer’s international recognition. Later principal conductors have included the American Lorin Maazel (1964-1975), the Italian Riccardo Chailly (1982-1989), and the Russian-Icelandic Vladimir Ashkenazy (1989-1999). Ingo Metzmacher (2007-2010) stands as the sole German-born chief conductor in the orchestra’s history. More recent leaders comprise the American specialist in contemporary music Kent Nagano (2000-2006), the Russian Tugan Sokhiev (2012-2016), and, since 2017, the Briton Robin Ticciati.

Although the orchestra continues to appear on radio, it maintains a complete concert season centered at Berlin’s Philharmonie. Its extensive discography features a 2011 Grammy-winning release of works by Kaija Saariaho under Nagano’s direction. Ticciati led the ensemble in a 2019 Linn recording of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 6 in A major; additional releases have appeared on CPO, Sony Classical, Capriccio, and further labels.