Berliner Philharmoniker (Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra)

The Berlin Philharmonic (German: Berliner Philharmoniker) is a German orchestra based in Berlin. It is one of the most popular, acclaimed and well-respected orchestras in the world.

Throughout the 20th century, the orchestra was led by conductors Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922–45; 1952–54), Herbert von Karajan (1955–89), and Claudio Abbado (1989–2002). The orchestra’s early years, particularly during the later Nazi era, saw a heavy focus on the Austro-Germanic repertoire, featuring composers such as Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Strauss, and Wagner. Under Furtwängler and Karajan, it became renowned for its distinctive sound and high-quality musicianship and toured widely. In the latter half of the 20th century, the orchestra broadened its repertoire to include more Classical, Romantic, and 20th-century works, as well as lesser-known compositions and music from outside the Austro-German tradition.

Since Furtwängler's tenure, the orchestra has made numerous recordings, with the number of recordings expanding significantly during the Karajan era. Under Karajan, the orchestra experimented with new recording technologies and established worldwide fame through its studio recordings, which were predominantly released with the Deutsche Grammophon label. The orchestra is particularly known for its recordings of symphonic works by Classical, Romantic, and early 20th-century composers, which have won numerous international awards.

In the 21st century, the orchestra launched its own Digital Concert Hall in 2009 and its label, Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, in 2014. Each year, the orchestra collaborates with a select artist-in-residence and composer-in-residence. Following the term of Sir Simon Rattle (2002-2018), Kirill Petrenko has been the music director and conductor since 2019. The orchestra's current home is the Berliner Philharmonie.