Berlin Philharmonic Explained

Berlin Philharmonic
Native Name:	Berliner Philharmoniker
Founded:	(precursor Bilsesche Kappelle since 1867)
Former Name:	Frühere Bilsesche Kapelle, Berliner Philharmonisches Orchester
Location:	Berlin, Germany
Concert Hall:	Berliner Philharmonie
Principal Conductor:	Kirill Petrenko
Website:	berliner-philharmoniker.de

The Berlin Philharmonic (German: '''Berliner Philharmoniker'''|links=no|italic=no) is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world.^[1]

History

The Berlin Philharmonic was founded in Berlin in 1882 by 54 musicians under the name Frühere Bilsesche Kapelle (literally, "Former Bilse's Band"); the group broke away from their previous conductor Benjamin Bilse after he announced his intention of taking the band on a fourth-class train to Warsaw for a concert. The orchestra was renamed and reorganized under the financial management of Hermann Wolff in 1882. Their new conductor was Ludwig von Brenner; in 1887 Hans von Bülow, the conductor of the Meiningen Court Orchestra and one of the most famous piano virtuosos of the time, took over the post. This helped to establish the orchestra's international reputation, and guests Hans Richter, Felix von Weingartner, Richard Strauss, Gustav Mahler, Johannes Brahms and Edvard Grieg conducted the orchestra over the next few years. In 1887, the pianist and composer Mary Wurm became the first woman to conduct the orchestra.^[2] Programmes of this period show that the orchestra possessed only 46 strings, much less than the Wagnerian ideal of 64.

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. On 20 April 1942, Furtwängler conducted a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic for Hitler's birthday.^[3] Following the end of the performance, Joseph Goebbels approached the podium to shake Furtwängler's hand. This concert led to intense criticism of Furtwängler after the war.^[4] After Furtwängler (who was personally opposed to the Nazi regime) fled to Switzerland to escape arrest by the Gestapo in January 1945, Leo Borchard became chief conductor. The final wartime concert was on 12 April 1945, just before the commencement of the Battle of Berlin. The program included Brünnhilde's Immolation Scene, the finale from Wagner's Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods).^[5] Hitler Youth members are reported to have distributed cyanide pills to the audience for those who wished, by death, to escape the imminent arrival of the Red Army.^{[6] [7]} The battle forced the orchestra to close for two months, but it was quickly reopened by the Soviet occupation authorities under the East Berlin commandant General Nikolai Berzarin on 26 May 1945.^[8]

Borchard was accidentally shot and killed later in 1945 by the U.S. Army forces occupying West Berlin.^[9] Sergiu Celibidache then took over as chief conductor for seven years, from 1945 to 1952. Furtwängler returned as chief conductor in 1952 and held the post until his death in 1954.

The orchestra elected Herbert von Karajan as its next chief conductor. Karajan served in the post from 1955 until his resignation in April 1989, only months before his death. Under him, the orchestra made a vast number of recordings and toured widely, growing and gaining fame. The orchestra hired its first female musician, violinist Madeleine Carruzzo, in 1982.^[10] However, Karajan's hiring in September 1982 of Sabine Meyer, the first female wind player to the orchestra, led to controversy when the orchestra voted 73 to 4 not to admit her to the orchestra. Meyer subsequently left the orchestra. After Karajan stood down from the orchestra in 1989, the orchestra offered the chief conductorship to Carlos Kleiber, who declined.

In 1989, the orchestra elected Claudio Abbado as its next principal conductor. It was the first time the Philharmonic resorted to democratic voting after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Abbado expanded the orchestra's repertoire beyond the core classical and romantic works into more modern 20th-century works. Abbado stepped down from the chief conductorship of the orchestra in 2002. During the post-unification period, the orchestra encountered financial problems resulting from budgetary stress in the city of Berlin.^[11] In 2006, the Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic established the Claudio Abbado Composition Prize in Abbado's honour.^[12]

In June 1999, the musicians elected Sir Simon Rattle as their next chief conductor.^[13] 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. In his first season, he initiated community projects, such as a performance of Stravinsky's Le Sacre du printemps danced by 250 public school children, documented in Rhythm Is It!. Rattle's contract with the orchestra was initially until 2012. In April 2008, the BPO musicians voted in favour of retaining Rattle as their chief conductor until 2018.^[14] From 2006 to 2010, the general manager of the orchestra was Pamela Rosenberg.^[15] In September 2010, Martin Hoffmann became the orchestra's new Intendant.^[16] Hoffmann stood down as its Intendant after the close of the 2016/2017 season. Andrea Zietzschmann became Intendantin of the orchestra as of the 2017–2018 season.^[17] In December 2020, the orchestra announced the extension of Zietzschmann's contract as Intendantin until 31 August 2025.^[18] In February 2024, the orchestra announced a further extension of Zietzschmann's contract as Intendantin through the summer of 2028.^[19]

In 2006, the orchestra announced it would investigate its role during the Nazi regime.^[20] In 2007, Misha Aster published The Reich's Orchestra, his study of the relationship of the Berlin Philharmonic to the rulers of the Third Reich.^[21] Also in 2007, the documentary film The Reichsorchester by Enrique Sánchez Lansch was released.^[22]

UNICEF appointed the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and Rattle as Goodwill Ambassadors in November 2007.^[23] On 10 January 2013, the orchestra announced the scheduled end of Rattle's tenure as artistic director and chief conductor in 2018.^[24] In 2014, the orchestra founded its own label, Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings.

After an abortive first attempt on 11 May 2015,^[25] the orchestra on 21 June 2015 elected Kirill Petrenko as its next artistic director and chief conductor.^{[26] [27]} In October 2015, the orchestra announced that Petrenko was to formally commence his contract as chief conductor with the 2019/20 season.^{[28] [29]} A year after this news, in October 2016, the orchestra specified more precisely the start of Petrenko's tenure as 19 August 2019.^[30]

Concert halls

The orchestra's first concert hall, the Philharmonie situated on the Bernburger Straße in Berlin Kreuzberg, was inaugurated in 1882 in a building previously used as a skating rink^[31] and converted by the architect Franz Schwechten. In 1899, a smaller concert hall, the Beethovensaal on Köthener Straße, was also inaugurated for chamber music and chamber ensembles. The first Philharmonie was used until British bombers destroyed it on 30 January 1944, the anniversary of Hitler becoming chancellor.^[32] The orchestra played until the end of the war in the Staatsoper, Unter den Linden. The Staatsoper was also destroyed on 3 February 1945. In need of a venue, the Berlin Philharmonic played during the years following the war in the Titania-Palast, an old movie theater converted in a concert hall, and still used the Beethovensaal for smaller concerts. During the 1950s the orchestra moved its concerts at the Musikhochschule (today part of the Berlin University of the Arts), in the Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal. However, most of the recordings were done at the Jesus-Christus-Kirche in Berlin Dahlem, celebrated for its acoustics.

The need for a new Philharmonie was expressed since 1949, when the Gesellschaft der Freunde der Berliner Philharmonie e.V. (Friends of the Berliner Philharmonie Society) was created to gather funds. The building of the new Philharmonie started in 1961, following the design of architect Hans Scharoun, and it was inaugurated on 15 October 1963, with a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Its location made it part of the Kulturforum, and the great hall (2,440 seats) was then complemented by a chamber-music hall, the Kammermusiksaal (1,180 seats), built in 1987, following the design of architect Edgar Wisniewski, after a project by Hans Scharoun.

The Berliner Philharmonie has since been the home of the Berlin Philharmonic, and its symbol. The orchestra's logo is based on the pentagon-shape of the concert hall.

On 20 May 2008, a fire broke out at the Philharmonie. One-quarter of the roof underwent considerable damage as firefighters cut openings to reach the flames beneath the roof.^{[33] [34]} The hall interior also sustained water damage, but was otherwise "generally unharmed". The firefighters limited damage by the use of foam. The orchestra was restricted from use of the hall for concerts until June 2008.^[35]

On 18 December 2008, the orchestra announced the official creation of a Digital Concert Hall.^[36] This hitherto unique internet platform of the BPO enables persons with computer access all over the world to see and hear the Philharmonic's concerts, live or on demand, not only under recent conductors, but even previous concerts conducted, e.g., by Claudio Abbado. Since July 2014, the Digital Concert Hall additionally offers livestreams produced from HD movies of concerts by Herbert von Karajan in the 1960s and early 1970s. Since 2010, selected concerts of the Berlin Philharmonic have been transmitted live to cinemas in Germany and Europe.^[37]

Principal conductors

• Ludwig von Brenner (1882–1887)
• Hans von Bülow (1887–1893)
• Richard Strauss (1894–1895)
• Arthur Nikisch (1895–1922)
• Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922–1945)
• Leo Borchard (May–August 1945)
• Sergiu Celibidache (1945–1952)
• Wilhelm Furtwängler (1952–1954)
• Herbert von Karajan (1954–1989)
• Claudio Abbado (1989–2002)
• Simon Rattle (2002–2018)
• Kirill Petrenko (2019–present)

Honorary members

The orchestra conferred honorary membership to the conductors Daniel Barenboim (he is also the first and only honorary conductor), Bernard Haitink, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Seiji Ozawa, Mariss Jansons, and Zubin Mehta.^[38]

Composer in residence

• 1993–94 György Kurtág^[39]
• 2016–17 John Adams^[40]
• 2018–19 George Benjamin^[41]
• 2022–23 Esa-Pekka Salonen^[42]
• 2023–24 Jörg Widmann^[43]
• 2024–25 Wolfgang Rihm^{[44] [45] [46]}

Artist in residence

• 2008–09 Mitsuko Uchida^[47]
• 2013–14 Christian Gerhaher^[48]
• 2014–15 Christian Tetzlaff^[49]
• 2015–16 Peter Sellars^[50]
• 2017–18 Mark Padmore^[51]
• 2018–19 Daniil Trifonov^[52]
• 2019–20 Marlis Petersen^[53]
• 2020–21 Tabea Zimmermann^[54]
• 2021–22 Patricia Kopatchinskaja^{[55] [56]}
• 2023–24 Lisa Batiashvili^[57]
• 2024–25 Seong-Jin Cho^{[58] [59]}

Awards and recognition

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)

Grand Prix du Disque Awards

• 1954 "Symphonic Music" – Beethoven Symphony No. 3 under Paul van Kempen (Philips)

• 1962 "Solo & Orchestra" – Dvořák Cello Concerto with Pierre Fournier under George Szell (DG)^{[60] [61]}

• 1964 "Symphonic Music" – Beethoven 9 Symphonies under Herbert von Karajan (DG)^{[62] [63]}

• 1965 "Symphnoic Music" – Brahms Four Symphonies under Herbert von Karajan (DG)^[64]

• 1965 "Solo & Orchestra" – Sibelius Violin Concerto with Christian Ferras under Karajan (DG)^[65]

• 1968 "Integral Recording" – Bruckner 9 Symphonies under Eugen Jochum (DG)^[66]

• 1968 "Classical Symphonic Music" – Schubert Symphony No. 5 under Karl Böhm (DG)^[67]

• 1968 "Modern Concerto" – Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 & Ravel Piano Concerto with Martha Argerich under Claudio Abbado (DG)^{[68] [69]}

• 1970 "Symphonic Music" – Mozart Symphonies 21–24 under Karl Böhm (DG)^[70]

• 1970 "Solo & Orchestra" – Beethoven Triple Concerto with David Oistrakh, Mstislav Rostropovich, Sviatoslav Richter under Herbert von Karajan (EMI)

• 1970 "Solo & Orchestra" – Dvořák Cello Concerto, Tchaikovsky Rococo Varations with Mstislav Rostropovitch under Herbert von Karajan (DG)

• 1979 "Solo & Orchestra" – Mozart Violin Concerts No. 3 & 5 with Anne-Sophie Mutter under Herbert von Karajan (DG)^{[71] [72]}

Grammy Awards

• 1970 – Best Opera Recording – Herbert von Karajan, Helga Dernesch, Thomas Stolze, Jess Thomas, Wagner: Siegfried (DGG, 1969)

• 1979 – Best Orchestral Performance – Herbert von Karajan, Beethoven: Symphonies (9) (Complete)

• 1993 – Best Orchestral Recording – Leonard Bernstein, Mahler: Symphony No. 9 (DGG, 1992; recording 1979)

• 1995 – Best Chamber Music Performance – Daniel Barenboim, Dale Clevenger, Larry Combs, Daniele Damiano, Hansjörg Schellenberger, Beethoven/Mozart: Quintets (Chicago – Berlin) (1994)

• 1998 – Best Small Ensemble Performance – Claudio Abbado, Hindemith Kammermusik No. 1 mit Finale 1921, Op. 24 No. 1 (with members of Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra) (EMI, 1996)

• 2000 – Best Classical Vocal Performance – Claudio Abbado, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Quasthoff: Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn (DGG, 1999)

• 2001 – Best Orchestral Performance – Sir Simon Rattle, Mahler: Symphony No. 10 (EMI, 2000)

• 2007 – Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with orchestra) – Antonio Pappano, Leif Ove Andsnes: Rachmaninov, Piano Concertos 1 and 2 (EMI, 2006)^[73]

Gramophone Awards

• 1981 – "Opera Recording of the Year" – Herbert von Karajan, Wagner: Parsifal (DGG, 1980)

• 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

• 2003 – Chorwerkeinspielung – Sir Simon Rattle, Rundfunkchor Berlin, MDR Rundfunkchor, Ernst-Senff-Chor Berlin, Karita Mattila, Anne Sofie von Otter, Thomas Moser, Philip Langridge, Thomas Quasthoff: Schoenberg, Gurre-Lieder (EMI, 2002)

• 2006 – Musik-DVD Produktion des Jahres – Sir Simon Rattle, Thomas Grube and Enrique Sánchez Lansch (director), Uwe Dierks (producer): Rhythm Is It! (2005)

• 2006 – Sinfonische Einspielung – Claudio Abbado: Mahler, Symphony No. 6 (DGG, 2005)

• 2016 – Orchester/Ensemble – Jean Sibelius, Symphonies 1–7, (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2015)

ICMA (International Classical Music Awards)

• 2016 – "Symphonic" – Sir Simon Rattle: Jean Sibelius, Symphonies 1–7 (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2015)

• 2017 – "Symphonic" – Claudio Abbado: The Last Concert (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2016)

Timbre de Platine (Platinum Stamp) awarded by Opéra International magazine

• 1987 – Riccardo Muti, Mozart: Requiem (EMI, 1987)

Diapason magazine

• 2014 – Diapason D'Or de l'année 2014 – Sir Simon Rattle: Johann Sebastian Bach, St Matthew Passion (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2014)

• 2015 – Diapason D'Or Arte – Nikolaus Harnoncourt: Franz Schubert (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2015)

• 2015 – Diapason D'Or Arte – Sir Simon Rattle: Johann Sebastian Bach, St John Passion (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2014)

• 2016 – Diapason D'Or de l'année 2016 – Sir Simon Rattle: Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphonies 1–9 (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2016)

See also

• Philharmonia Quartet Berlin
• The 12 Cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic
• Scharoun Ensemble

Further reading

• Annemarie Kleinert: Music at its Best: The Berlin Philharmonic. From Karajan to Rattle, BoD Publishing Company, Norderstedt 2009,
• Angela Hartwig: Rattle at the Door – Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic 2002 to 2008, published by Evrei, 2009,, Kindle Edition

External links

• (In English and German)
• Berliner Philharmoniker at Google Cultural Institute
• Members of the orchestra, see also
• Digital Concert Hall
• "Economic Crisis Puts the Squeeze on Arts", a 2003 Deutsche Welle article
• Discography at SonyBMG Masterworks
• Website about the Kulturforum am Potsdamer Platz
• Misha Aster, Das Reichsorchester
• Bolero Berlin website, the Latin soul of the Berlin Philharmonic

Notes and References

1. Web site: The History of the Berlin Philharmonic . . 22 February 2022 . 22 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220222225512/https://www.classicfm.com/artists/berlin-phil/pictures/history-berlin-philharmonic-orchestra/ . live .
2. Web site: First woman at the conductor's desk. berliner-philharmoniker.de. 3 November 2017. 7 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031000/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/history/hans-von-buelow/#event-first-woman-at-the-conductors-desk. live.
3. Web site: Documental historia W.Furtwangler 9 sinf. Beethoven. Hitler"s birthday 20/4/1942 Part final mov. 4 . Youtube . 11 June 2022 . 11 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220611014228/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiA3s9pLUWM&gl=US&hl=en . live .
4. Book: Prieberg. Fred K.. Trial of Strength: Wilhelm Furtwängler and the Third Reich. 1991. Quartet Books. 91.
5. Web site: After the war – apocalypse . Joanna Kavenna . The Spectator . 18 May 2019 . 31 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190531075031/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2013/10/year-zero-by-ian-buruma-review/ . live .
6. Ghost Sonata. Alex Ross. Alex Ross (music critic). 16 March 2003. The New Yorker. 18 May 2019. 20 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201020043401/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/03/24/ghost-sonata. live.
7. Albert Speer: His Battle With Truth . Stanley Hoffmann . March–April 1996 . Foreign Affairs . 18 May 2019 . 18 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190518175522/https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/1996-03-01/albert-speer-his-battle-truth . live .
8. Book: Taylor, Fred. The Berlin Wall : a world divided, 1961–1989. 2006. HarperCollins. 978-0-06-078613-7. 1st U.S.. New York. 76481596. 3 September 2021. 10 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240210083610/https://search.worldcat.org/title/76481596. live.
9. Book: Stivers , William . Victors and Vanquished: Americans as Occupiers in Berlin. 1945–1949. 161. Armed Diplomacy: Two Centuries of American Campaigning. Combat Studies Institute. 978-1-4289-1650-0. 2004. Combat Studies Institute Press. Fort Leavenworth, KS. 24 November 2020. 10 February 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240210083453/https://books.google.com/books?id=p5agK7lACykC&q=%22Armed+Diplomacy%22&pg=PA161#v=snippet&q=%22Armed%20Diplomacy%22&f=false. live.
10. News: Donal Henahan. Donal Henahan. Women Are Breaking the Symphonic Barriers. The New York Times. 23 January 1983. 14 October 2015. 7 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160307222507/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/01/23/arts/music-view-women-are-breaking-the-symphonic-barriers.html?pagewanted=all. live.
11. News: Kate Connolly . Band of no gold . . 10 November 1999 . 17 August 2007 . 6 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151006000521/http://www.theguardian.com/g2/story/0,,255048,00.html . live .
12. Matthew Westphal . Berlin Philharmonic Names Winner of First Claudio Abbado Composition Prize . Playbill Arts . 6 November 2006 . 1 September 2007 . 30 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070930013030/http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/5540.html . live .
13. News: Andrew Clements . Picking up the baton . . 24 June 1999 . 17 August 2007 . 17 December 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131217191628/http://www.theguardian.com/comment/story/0,,288989,00.html . live .
14. News: Charlotte Higgins . Berlin Philharmonic keeps Rattle . . 29 April 2008 . 30 April 2008 . 2 May 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080502223425/http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/story/0,,2276770,00.html . live .
15. News: Catherine Hickley . Rosenberg Will Leave Berlin Philharmonic; Rattle Negotiates . Bloomberg News . 24 April 2008 . 28 April 2008 . 10 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210083453/https://www.bloomberg.com/politics?pid=20601088&refer=home&sid=aj.OUoFI9.Kw . live .
16. Web site: Neuer Intendant der Berliner Philharmoniker . Berlin Philharmonic . 19 June 2009 . 28 July 2010. de . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110609132228/http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/magazine/titelgeschichten/title-stories/story/neuer-intendant-der-berliner-philharmoniker/ . 9 June 2011 . dmy-all .
17. Weichenstellungen für die Zeitenwende: Andrea Zietzschmann ist die neue Intendantin der Berliner Philharmoniker . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . 6 October 2016 . 3 November 2017 . 7 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013034/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/titelgeschichten/20172018/andrea-zietzschmann/ . live .
18. Andrea Zietzschmann: Vertrag verlängert . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . 7 December 2020 . 22 December 2020 . 23 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123022418/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/news/detail/andrea-zietzschmann-vertrag-verlaengert/ . dead .
19. Vertrag mit Andrea Zietzschmann wird um drei Jahre verlängert . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . 5 February 2024 . 2024-02-16.
20. News: Agence France-Presse . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra to probe Nazi-era history . European Jewish Express . 1 May 2007 . 17 August 2007. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092347/http://www.ejpress.org/article/16386 . 29 September 2007 . dmy-all .
21. News: Tony Paterson. Berlin Philharmonic 'was obedient servant of Hitler'. The Independent. 28 August 2007. 1 September 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070830041819/http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2900988.ece. 30 August 2007.
22. .
23. [UNICEF]
24. News: Sir Simon Rattle to step down as Berlin Philharmonic chief conductor in 2018 . . 10 January 2013 . 24 July 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190724072934/https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/sir-simon-rattle-to-step-down-as-berlin-philharmonic-chief-conductor-in-2018-0 . live .
25. News: Berlin Philharmonic deadlocked over Simon Rattle's successor . The Guardian . Louise Osborne . 11 May 2015 . 22 June 2015 . 22 June 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150622210717/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/may/11/berlin-philharmonic-imon-rattle-orchestra-vote-chief-conductor . live .
26. Congratulations to Kirill Petrenko! The Berliner Philharmoniker are delighted to announce their new chief conductor . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . 22 June 2015 . 22 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150622160430/http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/2014-2015/kirill-petrenko-2015/ . 22 June 2015 . dead .
27. News: Kirill Petrenko to succeed Simon Rattle at the Berlin Philharmonic . The Guardian . Ben Knight . 22 June 2015 . 22 June 2015 . 11 October 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151011192440/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/22/kirill-petrenko-to-be-named-successor-to-rattle-at-berlin-philharmonic . live .
28. Kirill Petrenko will take up office as chief conductor and artistic director of the Berliner Philharmoniker in the 2019/2020 season . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . 13 October 2015 . 14 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192714/http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/news/detail/kirill-petrenko/ . 4 March 2016 . dead .
29. News: Matthias Wulff . Kirill Petrenko kommt später als erwartet nach Berlin . . 13 October 2015 . 14 October 2015 . 20 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120201652/https://www.morgenpost.de/kultur/berlin-kultur/article206257649/Kirill-Petrenko-kommt-spaeter-als-erwartet-nach-Berlin.html . live .
30. Kirill Petrenko unterzeichnet Vertrag . Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra . 6 October 2016 . 7 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174311/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/news/detail/kirill-petrenko-unterzeichnet-vertrag/ . 30 August 2018 . dead .
31. https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/history/beginning/#event-establishment-of-a-new-orchestra "History of the Berliner Philharmoniker – The beginning"
32. Aster, Misha (2010). The Reich's Orchestra: The Berlin Philharmonic 1933–1945. Souvenir Press. p. 149.
33. News: Kate Connolly . Musicians flee Philharmonic fire in Berlin . . 21 May 2008 . 22 May 2008 . 5 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205043149/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/may/21/classicalmusicandopera.germany . live .
34. News: Nicholas Kulish. Nicholas Kulish. Daniel J. Wakin. Fire Under Control at Home of Berlin Philharmonic. The New York Times. 21 May 2008. 22 May 2008. 3 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231003064906/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/world/europe/21berlin.html. live.
35. News: Daniel J. Wakin. Hall Interior in Berlin Intact After Fire. The New York Times. 22 May 2008. 22 May 2008. 10 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110710054857/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/22/arts/music/22orch.html. live.
36. News: Kate Connolly . The Berlin Phil – live in your own front room . The Guardian . 19 December 2008 . 14 October 2015 . 26 July 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160726025649/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/19/berlin-philharmonic-internet . live .
37. Web site: Live im Kino 2017/2018. Berliner. Philharmoniker. www.berliner-philharmoniker.de. 20 March 2018. 15 June 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180615221555/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/kino/. live.
38. Web site: Honorary Membership for Zubin Mehta. 2018. Berliner Philharmoniker. 8 June 2019. 6 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191206042826/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/20182019/zubin-mehta/. dead.
39. Web site: György Kurtág und die Berliner Philharmoniker . . de . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203183907/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/stories/gyoergy-kurtag-berliner-philharmoniker/ . live .
40. Web site: Clements . Andrew . The John Adams Edition CD review – Berlin's lavish homage to an American great . . 29 November 2017 . 3 August 2023 . 3 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230803120513/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/29/john-adams-edition-cd-review-berliner-philharmoniker-rattle-petrenko-dudamel-gilbert . live .
41. Web site: Composer in Residence 2018/2019 . . 3 August 2023 . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606015852/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/titelgeschichten/20182019/composer-in-residence-20182019/ . live .
42. Web site: Nepilova . Hannah . Berlin Philharmonic appoints Esa-Pekka Salonen as Composer-in-Residence . Classical Music . 30 August 2022 . 3 August 2023 . 3 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230803113737/https://www.classical-music.com/features/articles/berlin-philharmonic-appoints-esa-pekka-salonen-as-composer-in-residence/ . live .
43. Web site: In Search of the Uncertain . Berliner Philharmoniker . 9 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . 30 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230530192140/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/about-us/composer-in-residence/joerg-widmann/ . live .
44. Web site: Composer in Residence 2024/25. Berlin Philharmonic. 21 June 2024.
45. Web site: Komponist Wolfgang Rihm im Alter von 72 Jahren gestorben . tagesschau.de . 27 July 2024 . de . 27 July 2024.
46. Web site: Berliner Philharmoniker: Ausnahmekomponist Wolfgang Rihm verstorben . DIE WELT . 27 July 2024 . de . 27 July 2024.
47. Web site: Mitsuko Uchida . Klassik Heute . de . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203161302/http://www.klassik-heute.de/4daction/www_interpret?id=13103 . live .
48. Web site: Christian Gerhaher . . de . 3 February 2024 . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130135730/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/christian-gerhaher/ . live .
49. Web site: Christian Tetzlaff . . de . 3 February 2024 . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603122911/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/christian-tetzlaff/ . live .
50. Web site: Peter Sellars . . de . 3 February 2024 . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606135642/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/peter-sellars/ . live .
51. Web site: Mark Padmore . . de . 3 February 2024 . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606135011/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/mark-padmore/ . live .
52. Web site: Artist in Residence 2018/2019 . . de . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203111751/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/daniil-trifonov/ . live .
53. Web site: Marlis Petersen . . de . 3 February 2024 . 30 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231130135043/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/marlis-petersen/ . live .
54. Web site: Tabea Zimmermann . . 8 October 2020 . de . 3 February 2024 . 28 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231128160718/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/ueber-uns/artist-in-residence/tabea-zimmermann/ . live .
55. Web site: Peitz . Christiane . Fluxus-Performance der Geigerin Patricia Kopatchinskaja: Das Schlagzeug feudelt die Treppengeländer . Aktuelle News . 23 January 2022 . de . 3 February 2024 . 10 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240210083617/https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/das-schlagzeug-feudelt-die-treppengelander-4304668.html . live .
56. Web site: Wo die Zukunft beginnt . . de . 3 February 2024 . 17 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220817222612/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/das-orchester/patricia-kopatchinskaja/ . live .
57. Web site: The Reflection of the Soul . . 9 May 2023 . 2 February 2024 . 6 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230606201453/https://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/en/about-us/artist-in-residence/lisa-batiashvili/ . live .
58. Web site: Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin performs with Berlin Philharmonic in Seoul . . 12 November 2023 . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203160246/https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2023-11-12/entertainment/musicPerformance/Korean-pianist-Cho-Seongjin-performs-with-Berlin-Philharmonic-in-Seoul/1911105 . live .
59. Web site: Pianist Cho Seong-jin to perform with Berlin Philharmonic this week in Seoul . koreatimes . 10 November 2023 . 3 February 2024 . 3 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240203160432/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2024/02/398_362974.html . live .
60. Web site: Dvořák*, Pierre Fournier ∙ Berliner Philharmoniker ∙ George Szell – Konzert Für Violoncello . Discog . February 19, 2024.
61. Deutsche Grammophon, Seventy Sound Years: 1898–1968 . Billboard . May 4, 1968 . 74 . 40.
62. Deutsche Grammophon, Seventy Sound Years: 1898–1968 . Billboard . May 4, 1968 . 74 . 40.
63. Web site: Ludwig van Beethoven – Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan – 9 Symphonien . Discog . February 19, 2024.
64. Deutsche Grammophon, Seventy Sound Years: 1898–1968 . Billboard . May 4, 1968 . 74 . 40.
65. Deutsche Grammophon, Seventy Sound Years: 1898–1968 . Billboard . May 4, 1968 . 74 . 40.
66. Deutsche Grammophon, Seventy Sound Years: 1898–1968 . Billboard . May 4, 1968 . 74 . 40.
67. 50 Records Take Grand Prix in Paris . Billboard . March 16, 1968 . 74 . 54 .
68. Deutsche Grammophon, Seventy Sound Years: 1898–1968 . Billboard . May 4, 1968 . 74 . 40.
69. 50 Records Take Grand Prix in Paris . Billboard . March 16, 1968 . 74 . 54 .
70. Web site: Mozart*, Karl Boehm*, Orchestre Philharmonique De Berlin* – Symphonies N° 21, K.134 • N° 22, K.162 • N° 23, K.181 • N° 24, K.182 . Discog . February 14, 2023.
71. Web site: Anne-Sophie Mutter Violin . Dallas Symphony Orchestra . February 19, 2024.
72. Web site: Mozart, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan – Violinkonzerte = Violin Concertos No. 3 KV 216 & No. 5 KV 219. Discog . February 19, 2024.
73. News: Winners. GRAMMY.com. 9 June 2018. 21 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190321033107/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/winners-nominees/109. live.