Deutsche Oper Berlin
The Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin was founded in 1912, parallel to the opening of the Deutsches Opernhaus. In addition to the well-established and venerable opera repertoire, the program of what, at the time, was celebrated as Germany’s biggest opera house was shaped by works of the 19th and early 20th century, with an explicit focus on Richard Wagner. Nevertheless, symphony concerts have always played an important role in the house’s programming.
In the 1920s and 30s, big names such as Bruno Walter, Paul Dessau, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Leo Blech, Fritz Busch and Karl Böhm were engaged by the Municipal Opera. After the almost complete destruction of the opera house in World War II, the ensemble played for 16 years in today’s “Theater des Westens”. In the fifties, Karl Böhm, Hermann Scherchen and Silvio Varviso were regularly invited to the conductor’s podium. In 1959, the sensational success of the staged premiere of Arnold Schoenberg’s opera „Moses and Aron“ marked the beginning of the era of guest performances, which still persists today.
It was the architect Fritz Bornemann who gave the ensemble a new home when he re-built the Deutsche Oper Berlin on the foundation walls of the original opera house in 1961. Ferenc Fricsay conducted the opening performance of “Don Giovanni” and in 1965, musical director Lorin Maazel gave the orchestra fresh impetus. Heinrich Hollreiser, Eugen Jochum and Karl Böhm shaped the opera house’s profile by inviting famous guest conductors, such as Herbert von Karajan, Zubin Mehta or Erich Leinsdorf. After Lorin Maazel, Gerd Albrecht was appointed principal conductor, who in turn was succeeded by Jesús López Cobos, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christian Thielemann and Renato Palumbo. At the beginning of the 2009/10 season, Donald Runnicles made his debut as the opera’s new musical director. Yves Abel, Jacques Lacombe, Andris Nelsons and Mikko Franck count among the distinguished guest conductors invited by the orchestra in recent years.
The tradition of the symphony concerts is still being upheld by the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, for example in the form of the popular chamber music series “Klang der Welt” (Sound of the World). Alongside the numerous opera guest performances that the orchestra performs, the ensemble has also been on concert tours to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Vienna and Paris. In the summer of 2007, the orchestra accompanied star singers Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón on tour.
In the 1920s and 30s, big names such as Bruno Walter, Paul Dessau, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Leo Blech, Fritz Busch and Karl Böhm were engaged by the Municipal Opera. After the almost complete destruction of the opera house in World War II, the ensemble played for 16 years in today’s “Theater des Westens”. In the fifties, Karl Böhm, Hermann Scherchen and Silvio Varviso were regularly invited to the conductor’s podium. In 1959, the sensational success of the staged premiere of Arnold Schoenberg’s opera „Moses and Aron“ marked the beginning of the era of guest performances, which still persists today.
It was the architect Fritz Bornemann who gave the ensemble a new home when he re-built the Deutsche Oper Berlin on the foundation walls of the original opera house in 1961. Ferenc Fricsay conducted the opening performance of “Don Giovanni” and in 1965, musical director Lorin Maazel gave the orchestra fresh impetus. Heinrich Hollreiser, Eugen Jochum and Karl Böhm shaped the opera house’s profile by inviting famous guest conductors, such as Herbert von Karajan, Zubin Mehta or Erich Leinsdorf. After Lorin Maazel, Gerd Albrecht was appointed principal conductor, who in turn was succeeded by Jesús López Cobos, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christian Thielemann and Renato Palumbo. At the beginning of the 2009/10 season, Donald Runnicles made his debut as the opera’s new musical director. Yves Abel, Jacques Lacombe, Andris Nelsons and Mikko Franck count among the distinguished guest conductors invited by the orchestra in recent years.
The tradition of the symphony concerts is still being upheld by the Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, for example in the form of the popular chamber music series “Klang der Welt” (Sound of the World). Alongside the numerous opera guest performances that the orchestra performs, the ensemble has also been on concert tours to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Vienna and Paris. In the summer of 2007, the orchestra accompanied star singers Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón on tour.
Photo: Barbara Aumüller im Auftrag der Deutschen Oper
