Since its inception in 1842, the
Wiener Philharmoniker (or
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra in English) has represented the best in the Central European orchestral tradition. Before the
Wiener Philharmoniker was founded, there was no permanent, professional orchestra to be found outside the opera halls in the city of
Mozart,
Haydn, and
Beethoven. The
Wiener Philharmoniker is one of the most traditional orchestras in the world today, with much-beloved traditions, like the annual New Year's concerts of waltzes by the Strauss family.
In 1833, Franz Lachner, conductor at the Hofoper, had formed a musicians' association from the ranks of the opera orchestras to play symphonic music, but this was a temporary endeavor. Nine years later, a group of music critics and other interested parties persuaded Otto Nicolai, principal conductor of the Kärntertortheater, to conduct the first
Wiener Philharmoniker concert at the Grosser Redoutensaal (Great Ballroom) on March 28, 1842. The group was founded as the first completely self-governing orchestra, and it has remained so ever since. Although concerts were irregular until 1860, the orchestra quickly built up a reputation. From 1860 to 1875, Otto Dessoff was the permanent conductor, bringing the music of
Brahms,
Wagner, and
Liszt into the concert halls. Hans Richter succeeded Dessoff and conducted the orchestra until 1898, introducing
Bruckner and
Dvorák to Viennese audiences. Both of these conductors played major roles in establishing the
Wiener Philharmoniker as one of the finest orchestras in the world. During this time, the
Wiener Philharmoniker had numerous premieres of now-classic works such as
Brahms' Second Symphony and
Bruckner's Eighth; sometimes, as in the case of
Bruckner's Third, the premiere was conducted by the composer himself. The great
Gustav Mahler conducted from 1898 to 1901, but his tenure was marked by dissension within the orchestra.
The longest-term conductor of the post-
Mahler era was
Felix Weingartner, from 1908 to 1927. He was beloved by the orchestra for his measured, classical style and, in particular, for his
Beethoven interpretations. From 1933 to 1938, the revered conductors
Bruno Walter and
Wilhelm Furtwängler shared the subscription concerts; after Hitler's annexation of Austria in 1938, the Nazi Party dissolved the orchestra, but the decision was reversed after
Furtwängler intervened. The
Wiener Philharmoniker led an uneasy life during the war but afterward reclaimed its place in the world's orchestral pantheon. The list of conductors who have led
Wiener Philharmoniker subscription concerts reads like an honor roll of maestros;
Richard Strauss,
Arturo Toscanini,
Herbert von Karajan, and
Leonard Bernstein have each taken turns at the podium.
The
Wiener Philharmoniker has held an annual New Year's Day Concert of Strauss family works, particularly those of
Johann II, since 1941 when
Clemens Krauss began the tradition; the first of these concerts was actually held on New Year's Eve in 1939, after which the concert has occurred on New Year's Day.
Riccardo Muti led the orchestra in its 80th New Year's concert in 2021, marking his sixth appearance in the series. While some of its traditions are revered, others have come under fire in recent years. Though the
Wiener Philharmoniker premiered a lot of music in its early days, it now prefers to play mostly music written before 1900, which created a controversy at the Salzburg Festival during the 1990s. The orchestra also refused until 1997 to accept a female musician as a full member, threatening to disband rather than cave in to political pressure. The first woman member of the
Wiener Philharmoniker was harpist
Anna Lelkes, who was granted full membership after 26 years of service.
Simone Young was the first woman to conduct the
Wiener Philharmoniker in 2005, and in 2008,
Albena Danailova became the orchestra's first female concertmaster. Historically, the
Wiener Philharmoniker has opposed hiring musicians who are not Central European in order to preserve what is perceived as a unique quality of sound. While the orchestra's policies may be controversial, it cannot be disputed that the
Wiener Philharmoniker is one of the world's finest orchestras, performing with exceptional finesse and clarity, with a beautifully blended woodwind and brass sound that meshes perfectly with its subtle, lush strings.
The
Wiener Philharmoniker is celebrated on 24-carat gold bullion coins issued by the Austrian Mint. In 2006, the design of the coinage was featured by Austrian Airlines on its airplanes to promote both the orchestra and the sale of the coins, which are among the most popular with investors.