Dortmunder Philharmoniker

The Dortmunder Philharmoniker (Dortmund Philharmonic) are a German symphony orchestra based in Dortmund. The orchestra of the Theater Dortmund performs opera in the Opernhaus Dortmund and concert in the Konzerthaus Dortmund. The orchestra was founded in 1887 and has been shaped by conductors such as Wilhelm Schüchter, Marek Janowski, Moshe Atzmon and Jac van Steen.

History
The Dortmunder Philharmoniker were founded as Orchesterverein in 1887. They played at different locations until the Stadttheater was opened in 1904. Since then they played also opera.

The names of orchestra changed with organisational and functional changes, Hüttner Kapelle, Städtisches Orchester (Orchestra of the City), Philharmonisches Orchester der Stadt Dortmund, Philharmonisches Orchester Dortmund, now Dortmunder Philharmoniker. The concert venue after World War II was the Kleine Westfalenhalle. In 1966 they opened the new opera house Opernhaus Dortmund with a performance of Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Wilhelm Schüchter. Its hall was also used for symphony concerts until 2002, when the Konzerthaus Dortmund opened as the orchestra's home.

As of 2010, the orchestra had grown to 102 musicians. The principal conductor has the title Generalmusikdirektor:


 * 1887–1919 Georg Hüttner
 * 1920–1951 Wilhelm Sieben
 * 1952–1962 Rolf Agop
 * 1963–1974 Wilhelm Schüchter
 * 1975–1979 Marek Janowski
 * 1980–1985 Hans Wallat
 * 1985–1990 Klaus Weise
 * 1991–1994 Moshe Atzmon
 * 1996–2000 Anton Marik
 * 2002–2007 Arthur Fagen
 * 2008–2013 Jac van Steen
 * since 2013 Gabriel Feltz

Music
The Dortmunder Philharmiker perform regular concerts and also concerts for young listeners, Familienkonzerte (family concerts) for people from five years up, and Konzerte für junge Leute (concerts for young people).

In October 2006 they toured in China, in Shanghai and Beijing among others, conducted by Arthur Fagen.

In 2010 they participated in the Festival Klangvocal with music of Hans Werner Henze and Richard Wagner. Henze's Symphony No. 5, Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder in Henze's version, and the first act of Die Walküre were performed with soloists Angela Denoke and Stig Andersen, conducted by Jac van Steen. It is part of a project begun in 2009 to perform all symphonies of Henze, whose mother was born in nearby Witten.

The Dortmunder Philharmoniker recorded a CD in 2010, works of Antonín Dvořák, including his Symphony No. 6 and concert overtures.