Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz in Ludwigshafen

The Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz (German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate) is a German orchestra based in the German state of

Rhineland-Palatinate Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; ; ; ) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the sixteen states. Mainz is the capital and largest city. Other cities are ...

, in

Ludwigshafen am Rhein Ludwigshafen, officially Ludwigshafen am Rhein (; meaning "Ludwig I of Bavaria, Ludwig's Port upon the Rhine"; Palatine German dialects, Palatine German: ''Ludwichshafe''), is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in the German state of Rh ...

. The orchestra performs concerts principally at the

Ludwigshafen Ludwigshafen, officially Ludwigshafen am Rhein (; meaning "Ludwig I of Bavaria, Ludwig's Port upon the Rhine"; Palatine German dialects, Palatine German: ''Ludwichshafe''), is a List of cities and towns in Germany, city in the German state of Rh ...

Philharmonie.

History

In 1919, the orchestra was founded as the ''Landes-Sinfonie-Orchester für Pfalz und Saarland'' ('State Symphony Orchestra for Palatinate and Saarland'). In 1923, the orchestra was reorganised into a ''GMbH'' under the name ''Pfalzorchester''. The orchestra changed its name in 1933 to ''Saarpfalzorchester'', and subsequently to ''Landessymphonieorchester Westmark'' in 1941, holding the latter name to 1944. In 1967, the orchestra took the name ''Philharmonisches Orchester der Pfalz''. In 1974, the state of Rhineland-Palatinate took over sponsorship of the orchestra in place of the orchestra association, with a change in the orchestra's name to ''Pfälzische Philharmonie, Staatsorchester Rheinland-Pfalz''. During the tenure of

Christoph Eschenbach Christoph Eschenbach (; born 20 February 1940) is a German pianist and conductor. Early life Eschenbach was born on 20 February 1940 in Breslau, Germany (now Wrocław, Poland) as Christoph Ringmann. His parents were Margarethe (née Jaross), a ...

as chief conductor, the orchestra acquired the name of ''Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz''. In 1985, during the tenure of

Leif Segerstam Leif Selim Segerstam ( , 2 March 1944 – 9 October 2024) was a Finnish conductor, composer, violinist, violist, and pianist, especially known for writing over 300 symphonies, along with other works. From 1963 onward Segerstam conducted a vari ...

as chief conductor, the orchestra took up residence in the ''Philharmonie in Ludwigshafen am Rhein''. On 1 January 1998, the orchestra was formally transformed into a state operation. The orchestra acquired its current name of ''Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz'' on 1 January 2007. In December 2016, Michael Francis first guest-conducted the orchestra. In December 2018, the orchestra announced the appointment of Francis as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2019–2020 season, with an initial contract of 5 years. In March 2023, the orchestra announced a five-year extension of Francis' contract as chief conductor.

Chief conductors

* Lewis Ruth (1919–1920) * Ernst Boehe (1920–1938) * Karl Friderich (1939–1943) *

Franz Konwitschny Franz Konwitschny (14 August 1901, Fulnek, Moravia – 28 July 1962, Belgrade) was a German conductor and violist of Moravian descent. Biography Konwitschny came from a family of musicians. From 1920 to 1923 he took violin lessons at the Academ ...

(1943–1944) *

Heinz Bongartz Heinz Bongartz (31 July 1894, Krefeld – 5 May 1978, Dresden) was a German Conducting, conductor and composer. He was the first artistic manager of the Dresdner Philharmonie (Dresden Philharmonic Concert Halls) under the East Germany, East ...

(1944) *

Karl Maria Zwißler Karl Maria Zwißler (12 August 1900 – 15 September 1984) was a German conductor, and academic. He was for decades the Generalmusikdirektor and Intendant of the Staatstheater Mainz. He taught conducting at the music universities of Stuttgart and ...

(1946–1947) * Bernhard Conz (1947–1951) * Karl Rucht (1951–1957) *

Otmar Suitner Otmar Suitner (; 16 May 1922 – 8 January 2010) was an Austrian conductor who spent most of his professional career in East Germany. He was born in Innsbruck and died in Berlin. He was principal conductor of the Staatskapelle Dresden from 1960 ...

(1957–1960) * Christoph Stepp (1960–1978) *

(1978–1983) *

(1983–1990) *

Bernhard Klee Bernhard Klee (born 19 April 1936) is a German conductor, originally from Schleiz, in Thuringia. He studied piano with Else Schmitz-Gohr. Trained as a member of the Thomanerchor, he has since conducted many of Europe's most prestigious orchestras ...

(1992–1997) *

Theodor Guschlbauer Theodor Guschlbauer (born 1939 in Vienna) is an Austrian conductor. Decorations and awards * 1995: Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, 1st class * 1996: Honour "Victoire" for his work on the ''Opéra du Rhin'' and at the Strasbourg Phil ...

(1997–2001) * Ari Rasilainen (2002–2009) *

Karl-Heinz Steffens Karl-Heinz Steffens (born 28 November 1961) is a German clarinetist and conductor. Biography Steffens studied clarinet from 1982 to 1985 at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart with Ulf Rodenhäuser. His first profession ...

(2009–2018) * Michael Francis (2019–present)

References

External links

* {{Authority control German symphony orchestras Ludwigshafen Musical groups established in 1919 Orchestras in Rhineland-Palatinate 1919 establishments in Germany