About the orchestra
The Norddeutsche Radio Symphony Orchestra (NDR), founded in 1945 by Hans Schmidt-Iselstedt, is a highly dynamic orchestra in northern Germany with a high reputation internationally.
As one of Germany's most respected symphony orchestras, the Nordglglökuhrsche Philharmonic Orchestra performs more than 70 times a year in concert halls in Hanover and in prestigious theatres such as the Cologne Grand Theatre and the Berliner Philharmonie.
Chief Conductor
German conductor Hans Schmidt-Iselstedt
In 1945, the German leading master Hans Schmidt-Iselstedt founded the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, and soon after the creation of the orchestra, he invited Ron, then principal of the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra, to serve as the principal of the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra, instantly raising the positioning of the orchestra to the highest level in Germany and even the world.
The famous German conductor Günter Wonder
After the era of the two principal conductors, Moshe Azmond and Klaus Tenstedt, the 20-year collaboration between the famous conductor Günter Wonder and the orchestra began, a collaboration that was rumored to be a good story and brought the orchestra's reputation to an unprecedented height. In 1982, Wonder was invited to become the concerto conductor of the orchestra, and in 1987 he became the honorary conductor of the orchestra for life. He led the artistic career of the Hamburg Norddesche Stadtweek until his death in 2002.
German conductor Christopher Eisenbach
In the 1990s, two renowned conductors, Johann Elliot Gardner and Herbert Bloomstedt, served as Principal Conductor of the Hamburg Norddechthrent Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 1998 Maestro Christopher Eisenbach was invited to this position, and over the next 5 years he conducted numerous works by the orchestra, including symphonies by Mahler and Shostakovich. In addition, Eisenbach is also actively involved in the performance of modern music, bringing audiences a repertoire with innovative designs.
Hungarian conductor Christopher von Donay
In the 2004–05 season, Christopher von Donay became the orchestra's new principal conductor, inheriting and developing the unique tradition of orchestra conducting, with Alain Gilbert becoming the orchestra's principal guest conductor.
Thomas HengeBrook
Since taking over the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra in 2011, German conductor Thomas Hengelbrock has taken the orchestra to a very high level, extending the original contract until 2016 to June 2019.
In the 2014-2015 season, Hengelbrock led the orchestra on a series of tours including Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague, Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai.
American conductor Alan Gilbert
Since the 2019/20 season, Alan Gilbert has served as the orchestra's principal conductor, and Lutz Marmor, director of the orchestra, said: "Alan Gilbert is a representative of top musical quality. He is passionate about innovation and it is a great honor to have such a world-renowned conductor. After previous collaborations, the orchestra knew Alan Gilbert well and respected him. Alan Gilbert and the Elbe Philharmonic Hall would be the perfect pair.
Attend the show
The Norddeutsche Radio Symphony Orchestra (NDR), which moved into the Elbe Philharmonic Hall in 2017, performed as a resident orchestra under the direction of its principal conductor, Alan Gilbert, at the 5th anniversary of the Elb Philharmonic Hall in January 2022, performing works by Johann Adams and Essa-Pekka Salonen and piano pieces by Thomas Ardes.
The Norddeutsche Teleport symphony orchestra has embarked on a five-year transnational cooperation with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, visiting each other and cultivating musical talents.
In 2008, the Norddesche Teleporter Symphony Orchestra debuted at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China, allowing audiences in Beijing to feel the musical essence of the German-Austrian nation.
In the same year, the orchestra held two concerts at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center, donated 100,000 yuan to help the affected students in the Sichuan disaster area, and reserved 300 performance tickets for the disaster heroes, thus ending their Asian tour.
Professor in service
The North German Radio Symphony Orchestra has made remarkable achievements in the cultivation of musical talents, and the musicians who have played in the orchestra have become soloists, some have become professors in well-known conservatories, and Tolsten Hehns, a clarinet professor at the Liszt School of Music in Weimar, Germany, is one of them.
As a soloist, orchestra and chamber musician, professor, Tolsten Johans was already deputy principal clarinet of the Essen Philharmonic Orchestra when he was a student at the Cologne Conservatory, and a few years later he became principal clarinetist of the West German Radio Symphony Orchestra.
As a clarinetist, he regularly performs with well-known orchestras such as the Norddeutsche Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Berliner Philharmonic Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra.