Berliner Symphoniker

Berliner Symphoniker (Berlin Symphony Orchestra) is a symphony orchestra in Berlin, Germany. The orchestra began its performing activity on 1 September 1967 as Symphonisches Orchester Berlin. In 1990 it was renamed Berliner Symphoniker.

The orchestra is not to be confused with the earlier Berliner Symphoniker of East Berlin, which was founded in 1950 and discontinued in the 1980s, or the Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester, also in former East-Berlin, which in 2006 was renamed the Konzerthausorchester Berlin.

History

From 1967 to 1990 the orchestra was known as the Symphonisches Orchester Berlin (SOB) and originated with the merger of two independent orchestras, the Berliner Symphonisches Orchester (founded in 1949) and the Deutsches Symphonieorchester.

The Symphonisches Orchester Berlin used to perform some 60 concerts per year in Berlin and elsewhere. Its first chief conductor was Carl August Bünte, who held the position until 1973; his successors included Theodore Bloomfield, Daniel Nazareth, Alun Francis and Lior Shambadal.

Notable concert tours

• 1996: Brazil
• 1998–2000: USA, Egypt, United Kingdom, Spain, Switzerland, Italy
• 2001: Italy, United Kingdom, South America
• 2002: Japan
• 2004: Japan, Hungary, Czech Republic, Frankfurt am Main
• 2005: South Korea, China, Switzerland, Italy, Greece
• 2006: Spain, Switzerland
• 2007: Argentina (Buenos Aires; International Festival Ushuaia), Italy, Japan, China
• 2008: Festival de Mallorca, Japan, China

Musical directors

• 1967–1973: Carl August Bünte
• 1975–1982: Theodore Bloomfield
• 1982–1985: Daniel Nazareth
• 1989–1996: Alun Francis
• 1997–2019: Lior Shambadal

Discography

The Berliner Symphoniker have released various recordings and CDs under their respective chief conductors.

External links

• Official website of the Berliner Symphoniker
• Sound carrier of Berliner Symphoniker in the German National Library catalogue