Berliner Philharmoniker

The Berlin Philharmonic, founded in 1882, is considered to be one of the best orchestras in the world. Famous conductors like Wilhelm Furtwängler, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado heavily influenced the orchestra’s history and development. In 2002, Sir Simon Rattle took over as conductor. During his leadership, the orchestra was able to engage new audiences through its Education Program. The program is funded through generous contributions by the Deutsche Bank. In 2009, the Berlin Philharmonic started a new, innovative project: the Digital Concert Hall, which presents the Philharmonic's live concerts on the web. The Berlin Philharmonic building is home to the orchestra. Built by Hans Scharoun, its groundbreaking architecture serves as a model for concert halls across the world.