Dresden Philharmonie Orchestra Dresden Philharmonie Orchestra In 2010 the Dresden Philharmonie marked the 140th anniversary of its founding. The orchestra has worked with the most eminent conductors in each historical period since its founding. The orchestra gained worldwide fame in the 1930s, with much credit going to the leadership of Paul van Kempen. This in turn attracted the great conductors of the time to appear in concert with the Philharmonie, including Arthur Nikisch, Hermann Abendroth, Hans Knappertsbusch, Fritz Busch, Erich Kleiber and |oseph Keilberth. The work of Heinz Bongartz as Principal conductor was essential in rebuilding the orchestra in the years following World War II. Other conductors since have included Kurt Masur and, from the 1994/95 concert season, the internationally acclaimed Michel Plasson, a collaboration which resulted in a Strong focus on key French composers on the orchestra’s concert Programmes. In 1999 Michel Plasson’s tenure came to an end. In 2001 an equally renowned conductor, Marek lanowski, became Plasson’s successor. Deeply rooted in German tradition and familiär with the Performance practice of leading orchestras in all the world’s major music centres, his coming to the Philharmonie was a particularly welcome turn of events. For the 2003/04 season Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos was named principal guest conductor and a year later became principal conductor. His experience conducting the best orchestras in the world and his personal Charisma led to a highly successful partnership with the orchestra, both in concerts performed in Dresden, on tour and in the international music recording industry. Michael Sanderling became principal conductor of the Dresden Philharmonie at the beginning of the 2011/12 season.
