Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Always in time: a world-class orchestra
Classical music at its finest, casual concerts and New Year’s Eve at the circus – the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester is always good for a surprise.
The final chord slowly fades away, for a moment the baton stays up, and then wild applause breaks out. The concert is over but the memory of a remarkable evening will remain. That’s when you know you’ve heard the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester in concert.
An award-winning orchestra
Taylor Swift has one, and so does Lady Gaga – but so too does the DSO Berlin: a Grammy, the most important prize in the music industry. The orchestra won the coveted award in 2011 with Kaija Saariaho’s L'Amour De Loin as the best opera recording. Along with the Berlin Philharmonic, the DSO is one of the most important orchestras not only in Berlin but in the whole of Germany, and is considered to be one of the best in the world.
Always in time
Originally, the DSO was a radio orchestra. It was founded in 1946 as the RIAS Symphony Orchestra, and changed its name several times. The DSO got its current name in 1993, and the orchestra has had many well-known conductors, including:
- Ferenc Fricsay
- Lorin Maazel
- Riccardo Chailly
- Vladimir Ashkenazy
- Kent Nagano
Ingo Metzmacher resigned as conductor in 2010 in protest against budget cuts. The podium was then vacant until Tugan Sokhiev was appointed in 2012. He went to Moscow in 2017 as principal conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra, and Robin Ticciati, the rising star among young conductors, picked up the baton.The DSO specialises in the classical music repertoire and modern music of the 20th century. And its programme and concert series consistently prove that classical music is never boring.
The Philharmonie rocks: Casual Concerts
It doesn’t always have to be formal - the Casual Concerts are a series of hour-long concerts without designated seat tickets, with a relaxed compère and a casual dress code. The relaxed fun continues in the Casual Concert Lounge, where you can dance to music from DJs and live acts in the foyer of the Philharmonie.
Small is beautiful: the Adamello Quartet
The Adamello Quartet for chamber music was founded by musicians from the DSO and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to play pieces from the classical romantic repertoire as well as contemporary and little-known works.
Ready for the circus: New Year’s Eve concert
Every New Year’s Eve the DSO performs concerts at the Tempodrom with artists from the Circus Roncalli. Originally, the idea was only an emergency solution when the Tempodrom was accidentally double-booked in 2003. But the combination of acrobatics and circus skills with classical music and orchestral sounds was a sensation, and ever since then the circus concert has been one of the highlights of New Year’s Eve in Berlin.
Classical for children: Kulturradio children’s concerts with open house
At the children’s concerts, youngsters not only listen to a special concert, but beforehand at the Open House they can get to know the orchestra world in a fun way by trying out musical instruments and having make-up put on.
Information for schools
Depending on availability, school classes who book in advance receive concert tickets at five euros each, and a special opportunity to sit with the musicians during an orchestra rehearsal. Teachers should contact the visitor service of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchestra at musikvermittlung@dso-berlin.de.
