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Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, DSO for short, is a German radio orchestra in Berlin. It gave its concerts mainly in the Philharmonie. It was founded in 1946 by the American occupying forces as the RIAS Symphonie-Orchester, named after the Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor, the broadcaster of the American sector. The first chief conductor was Ferenc Fricsay. In 1956 it received its later name.

Music and breakthrough

The orchestra was led by a succession of well-known conductors. After Fricsay came Lorin Maazel from 1964 to 1975, Riccardo Chailly from 1982 to 1989, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Kent Nagano, Ingo Metzmacher, Tugan Sokhiev and Robin Ticciati. In 2026 Kazuki Yamada will follow. Between Maazel and Chailly there was no permanent chief; in those years it worked with Erich Leinsdorf, Eugen Jochum and Neville Marriner. The DSO recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical and Harmonia Mundi. From the 1950s date recordings of operas such as Die Zauberflöte in 1955 and Don Giovanni in 1959. In 2011 it won a Grammy for its recording of Kaija Saariaho's opera L'amour de loin, conducted by Kent Nagano.

Influence

The DSO thus began as the orchestra of an American radio station in a divided Berlin and grew into a permanent part of the city's musical life.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to the 1959 recording of Don Giovanni. Notice how the orchestra carries the drama: the opera begins with a heavy, menacing chord.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists