Biography
The Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg (Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra) is an internationally renowned symphony orchestra based in Hamburg. As of 2015, Kent Nagano has been General Music Director (Generalmusikdirektor) and chief conductor (Chefdirigent). The Philharmoniker Hamburg also serves as the orchestra of the Hamburg State Opera. The Hamburg Philharmonic is one of three major orchestras in Hamburg, the others being the Hamburger Symphoniker and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra.
History:
Read full biography ↓
The forerunner organization, die Philharmonische Gesellschaft (The Philharmonic Society), was founded on November 9, 1828, and was led by Friedrich Wilhelm Grund.
In 1934 it merged with the Stadttheater-Orchester to become the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg (the name under which it recorded a celebrated Eighth Symphony of Anton Bruckner under Eugen Jochum in 1949). The present name was adopted in 2005.
Chief conductors:
Die Philharmonische Gesellschaft (1828)
1828–1862: Friedrich Wilhelm Grund
1867–1895: Julius von Bernuth (de) (1830–1902)
Vereins Hamburgischer Musikfreunde (1896)
1908–1921: José Eibenschütz (no)
1904–1922: Max Fiedler
1922–1933: Karl Muck
Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg (1934)
1934–1949: Eugen Jochum
1951–1959: Joseph Keilberth, Artistic Director
1961–1973: Wolfgang Sawallisch
1973–1976: Horst Stein
1976–1982: Aldo Ceccato
1984–1988: Hans Zender, GMD
1988–1997: Gerd Albrecht, GMD
1997–2005: Ingo Metzmacher, GMD
2005–2015: Simone Young, GMD
2015–current: Kent Nagano, GMD
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.