Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra ( Norwegian Bergen filharmoniske orkester ) is a Norwegian symphony orchestra based in Bergen . Founded in 1765 as the Musical Society ( Norwegian Det Musicalske Selskab ), it is the oldest symphony orchestra in Norway and one of the oldest in the world.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra Bergen filharmoniske orkester
basic information
Genre	classical music
Years	c 1765
A country	Norway
City	Bergen
Head	Andrew Lytton
harmonien.no

The history of the orchestra is closely connected with the name of Edward Grieg , who, being a native of Bergen, participated in the life of this group both creatively and financially. For several years, he was also the chief conductor of the Bergen Orchestra. Earlier in the orchestra began his performing career and Ole Bull .

In the first decades of its existence, the orchestra of the musical society consisted of 20-30 people. Gradually, the number of musicians increased and now there are about one hundred performers in the orchestra. Many orchestra musicians are also teachers at the Grieg Bergen Academy of Music .

At various times such outstanding soloists as Marian Anderson performed with the orchestra, and Jan Sibelius , Karl Nielsen , Aaron Copland , Witold Lutoslawski , Krzysztof Penderetsky , Luciano Berio conducted their works at the orchestra console.

Since 1978, the main concert venue of the orchestra has been the Grieghallen Concert Hall.