Bern Symphony Orchestra

The Berne Symphony Orchestra (BSO ) was established in 1877 and is today one of the largest orchestras in Switzerland. Consisting of around 100 musicians playing the BSO per season about 50 concerts ( including symphony, extranet, lunch and family concerts and matinees ). The main venue of the concerts is the Kultur-Casino Bern. Together with the Bern University of Arts and the Conservatory of the City organized the BSO also a successful chamber music series.

In addition to the concert operation of the orchestra has worked as a theater orchestra of the Municipal Theatre of Bern.

The Foundation acts as a carrier Bern Symphony Orchestra Association. The BSO is funded by federal, canton and city of Bern, regional communities and supporters.

Conductors

After five years under the artistic direction of Andrey Boreyko occurred with the start of the 2010/11 season the Swiss Mario Venzago to the position of chief conductor of the BSO. His predecessors include Dmitry Kitajenko, Charles Dutoit, Fritz Brun, Luc Balmer, Paul and Peter Maag Kletzki.

In 1935, renowned guest conductors were invited regularly. These included Bruno Walter, Erich Kleiber, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Karl Böhm, Herbert von Karajan, Sir John Barbirolli, Ernest Ansermet and later Hans Knappertsbusch and Rafael Kubelik, or more recently, Armin Jordan, Eliahu Inbal, Günther Herbig, Pietari Inkinen, Ari Rasilainen, Tania Miller and Jaap van Zweden.