!!!Wiener Philharmoniker

Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna, (Wiener Philharmoniker), one of the 
most famous symphony orchestras of the world, founded by O.  Nicolai 
(together with A. Schmidt and A. J. Becher) at the beginning of 
1842, emerging from a union of musicians of the court opera orchestra 
(the members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra are still recruited 
from the orchestra of the Vienna  State Opera). The first philharmonic 
concert took place in the Grosser Redoutensaal hall in Vienna on March 
28, 1842. Subscription concerts have been performed since 1860 (in the 
Grosser Musikvereinssaal concert hall since 1870). The Vienna 
Philharmonic Orchestra performed outside Vienna for the first time at 
the first Salzburg music festival in 1877 (Salzburg is still an 
important performance venue during the festival season). Long-term 
conductors include F. O.  Dessoff (1860-1875), H.  Richter 
(1875-1898), G.  Mahler (1898-1901), J.  Hellmesberger jr. 
(1901-1903), F.  Weingartner (1908-1927), W.  Furtwaengler (1927-1930, 
"main conductor" 1938-1945 and 1947-1954) and C.  Krauss (1930-1933). 
In the intervening years and since 1954 the Vienna Philharmonic 
Orchestra has been managed by guest conductors. - The Vienna 
Philharmonic Orchestra went on its first tour abroad (Paris) in 1900.

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10-11 subscription concerts, the Nicolai-concert (since 1887) and the 
traditional New Year's Concert (performed on New Year's Eve in 1939, 
since 1941 held on New Year's Day) are performed every year. The 
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra ball, which has taken place annually at 
the Musikverein since 1924, is one of the main social events of the 
Viennese ball season. Outstanding personalities emerging from the 
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra include A.  Nikisch, H. Richter, Franz  
Schmidt and A.  Rose.

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The repertory still focuses on classical symphony (J.  Haydn, 
W. A.  Mozart, L. v.  Beethoven) and is complemented by 
Austrian symphonic music of the 19th century. Strict selection 
procedures, homogeneous training of musicians, tradition and the 
capacity to modulate the orchestra guarantee the worldwide reputation 
of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, which uses a slightly elevated 
pitch in comparison to the standard pitch of a´ = 440 Hz.

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The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra has been an independent association 
with basic democratic structures ("democracy of kings") and has 
accepted women musicians in the orchestra since 1997 (first female 
member A. Lelke, harp). It awards an honorary ring (R. Serkin, 
L. Bernstein, C. Krauss, W.  Schneiderhan, H. v.  Karajan, K.  
Boehm et al.) for outstanding merit.

!Literature
C. Hellsberg, Demokratie der Koenige, 1992.


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