Wiener Philharmoniker

Since its founding in 1842, the Wiener Philharmoniker has embodied the pinnacle of Central European symphonic practice. No standing professional ensemble existed in Vienna outside opera houses prior to that date, even in the city associated with Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven. The orchestra maintains some of the most cherished customs among today’s ensembles, foremost the yearly New Year’s programs devoted to waltzes by the Strauss family.

Already in 1833 Franz Lachner, then conductor at the Hofoper, assembled players from the theater orchestras into a short-lived group for symphonic repertoire. Nine years afterward, critics and patrons convinced Otto Nicolai, principal conductor at the Kärntertortheater, to lead the first concert of the newly formed Wiener Philharmoniker on 28 March 1842 in the Grosser Redoutensaal. Established from the outset as a fully self-administered body, the orchestra has preserved that independence ever since. Although subscription concerts remained sporadic until 1860, its standing grew rapidly. Between 1860 and 1875 Otto Dessoff served as permanent conductor, introducing Viennese listeners to works by Brahms, Wagner, and Liszt. Hans Richter followed and held the post until 1898, bringing Bruckner and Dvořák into the repertoire; together the two music directors helped secure the ensemble’s reputation as one of the world’s foremost orchestras. During their tenures the players gave the first performances of several works now regarded as classics, among them Brahms’s Second Symphony and Bruckner’s Eighth; on occasion, as with Bruckner’s Third, the composer himself stood on the podium. Gustav Mahler assumed leadership from 1898 to 1901, yet his years were troubled by internal friction.

After Mahler, Felix Weingartner provided the longest period of stability, conducting from 1908 to 1927; the orchestra valued his restrained, classical approach, especially in Beethoven. From 1933 to 1938 Bruno Walter and Wilhelm Furtwängler jointly directed the subscription series. Following Hitler’s annexation of Austria in 1938 the Nazi authorities disbanded the ensemble, but Furtwängler’s intervention restored it. The players endured a precarious existence throughout the war years, yet afterward they regained their position among the leading orchestras internationally. The roster of conductors who have appeared in the subscription concerts constitutes a virtual roll call of distinguished maestros, including Richard Strauss, Arturo Toscanini, Herbert von Karajan, and Leonard Bernstein.

Since 1941 the Wiener Philharmoniker has presented an annual New Year’s Day concert of music by the Strauss family, principally Johann II; the custom originated with Clemens Krauss, whose inaugural program actually took place on New Year’s Eve 1939. Riccardo Muti led the 80th such concert in 2021, his sixth appearance in the series. While many traditions remain highly regarded, others have sparked debate in recent decades. Although the orchestra once championed numerous new scores, it now concentrates almost exclusively on music composed before 1900, a policy that provoked controversy at the Salzburg Festival in the 1990s. The ensemble also resisted admitting women as full members until 1997, at one point threatening dissolution rather than yield to external demands. Harpist Anna Lelkes became the first woman granted full membership after twenty-six years of service. Simone Young conducted the orchestra for the first time in 2005, and Albena Danailova was appointed its first female concertmaster in 2008. Historically the Wiener Philharmoniker has limited recruitment to musicians of Central European background in order to maintain what it regards as a distinctive sonority. Despite the disputes surrounding these practices, the orchestra continues to rank among the world’s finest, renowned for its refined execution, transparent textures, and the seamless integration of its woodwind and brass choirs with its supple, richly colored strings.

The Austrian Mint honors the Wiener Philharmoniker on 24-carat gold bullion coins. In 2006 Austrian Airlines reproduced the coin’s design on its fleet to promote both the orchestra and the coins, which rank among the most sought-after by collectors.