Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra is an orchestra of Pennsylvania in the United States and is one of the so-called Big Five.

It was founded in 1900 by Fritz Scheel, who was also the first conductor. He was followed by Karl Pohlig 1907. Leopold Stokowski, who was chief conductor since 1912, the orchestra made ​​famous.

In 1938, Eugene Ormandy chief conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He stopped the orchestra for over 40 years connected to 1980 and took with him many of the most famous recordings on vinyl before.

On Ormandy followed Riccardo Muti (1981-1992) and Wolfgang Sawallisch (1993-2003), who for many years was general music director of the Bavarian State Opera in Munich before. From 2003 to 2008 Christoph Eschenbach was chief conductor of the orchestra. From 2008 to 2012, the Philadelphia Orchestra by Charles Dutoit was conducted.

On records (especially RCA ) entered the band due to other recording contracts in the 1940s to 60s, partly as Robin Hood Dell Orchestra.

In the 2009/2010 season only 74 percent of the tickets were sold; by the orchestra was close to bankruptcy. 13 million from $ 15 million needed to save the orchestra were donated; In September 2010, donated the ' William Penn Foundation ' $ 4.5 million. In April 2011, the orchestra conducting applied on the basis of inability to pay creditor protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. bankruptcy law. The structural deficit had grown to approximately $ claims to 14.5 million U.S..

Since the season 2012/2013 Conductor Yannick Nézet the Canadian -Séguin has been Music Director of the orchestra.

The seat of the orchestra is located in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA.