Vienna Philharmonic

Vienna Philharmonic
Name	Vienna Philharmonic
Founded	0 1842
Location	Musikverein, Vienna, Austria
Music director	None (self-governing)
Principal conductor	Christian Thielemann (designate, from 2025)
Website	www.wienerphilharmoniker.at

Vienna Philharmonic. The Vienna Philharmonic is a world-renowned orchestra based in Vienna, Austria, and is considered one of the finest ensembles in the world. Founded in 1842 by Otto Nicolai, it operates as a self-governing body of musicians primarily drawn from the Vienna State Opera. The orchestra is celebrated for its distinctive warm, rich sound, its deep association with the Viennese classical and romantic repertoire, and its globally broadcast annual New Year's Concert.

History

The orchestra was established in 1842 by composer and conductor Otto Nicolai under the name "Philharmonische Academie," with its inaugural concert held at the Redoutensaal. Following Nicolai's departure in 1847, the ensemble faced instability until it was revitalized in 1860, adopting the name "Wiener Philharmoniker" and beginning its permanent residency at the Musikverein, a hall renowned for its exceptional acoustics. Key figures in its early development included conductor Hans Richter, who led premieres of works by Anton Bruckner and Johannes Brahms, and composer Richard Wagner, who praised the orchestra's capabilities. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw close collaborations with iconic conductors like Gustav Mahler, a former director of the Vienna Court Opera, and Felix Weingartner. The orchestra maintained its activities through the tumultuous periods of World War I, the First Austrian Republic, the Anschluss, and World War II, with its post-war era defined by long artistic partnerships with maestros such as Herbert von Karajan, Karl Böhm, and Leonard Bernstein.

Orchestra and musicians

The Vienna Philharmonic operates as a unique democratic society, with all decisions made collectively by its members. The musicians are selected through a rigorous process and must first secure a permanent position in the orchestra of the Vienna State Opera, typically for a minimum of three years, before being eligible for a vote into the Philharmonic. This system ensures a deep, unified playing style and technical mastery. The orchestra is known for its particular instruments and performance practices, including the use of the Viennese horn and Viennese oboe, which contribute to its characteristic sonority. It has no single music director, instead inviting a roster of distinguished guest conductors; notable principal conductors have included Wilhelm Furtwängler, Claudio Abbado, and currently Andris Nelsons in a rotating role, with Christian Thielemann designated to assume the principal conductor title in 2025.

New Year's Concert

The orchestra's most famous annual event is the New Year's Concert, a performance of music by the Strauss family and other light classical composers broadcast live from the Musikverein to over 90 countries. Initiated in 1939 during the dark period of World War II, the concert was conceived by conductors Clemens Krauss and later Willi Boskovsky to provide hope and celebrate Viennese musical tradition. Since 1987, a different eminent conductor has been invited to lead the concert each year, including Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Mariss Jansons, and Franz Welser-Möst. The concert always concludes with encores of The Blue Danube and the Radetzky March, during which the audience claps along, creating a globally recognized festive ritual.

Summer Night Concert

Since 2008, the orchestra has presented an annual open-air Summer Night Concert at the Schönbrunn Palace, attracting audiences of up to 100,000 people. This free concert, set against the Baroque backdrop of the UNESCO World Heritage site, features a more varied program than the New Year's Concert, encompassing symphonic works, opera excerpts, and popular classics. Like its January counterpart, it is broadcast internationally and has been led by conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Valery Gergiev, and Gustavo Dudamel, further expanding the orchestra's global reach and public accessibility.

Recordings and media

The Vienna Philharmonic has an extensive discography and filmography dating back to the early 20th century. It made historic recordings with conductors like Arturo Toscanini and Bruno Walter and has a long-standing association with the Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Records labels. The orchestra has been integral to many celebrated opera recordings from the Salzburg Festival and has performed on the soundtracks of major films, including 2001: A Space Odyssey which used Richard Strauss's Also sprach Zarathustra. Its televised concerts, especially the New Year's Concert, are among the most widely watched classical music events worldwide.

Awards and recognition

The orchestra has received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards, an Academy Award for best scoring for the film The Great Waltz, and the distinction of being named a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations. In 2005, the European Union designated it as a "Global Ambassador of the European Cultural Heritage." Individual members of the orchestra are also frequent recipients of honors, such as the Austrian title of Kammermusiker. The ensemble's iconic New Year's Concert was inscribed into Austria's national inventory of Intangible cultural heritage in 2017, cementing its cultural significance.

Category:Symphony orchestras Category:Musical groups from Vienna Category:1842 establishments in Austria