Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
There may be more confusion over the identity of this orchestra than any other major ensemble in the West, not least because it has had three names over the years. Founded in 1946 in the American sector of Berlin, the orchestra was formed while Berlin (and most of Germany) was emerging from the destruction of the war. The ensemble was given the name of RIAS Symphony Orchestra, the initials standing for "Radio in the American Sector." In 1956, the ensemble adopted the name of Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, by which many concertgoers and record collectors still know it.
In 1993, the orchestra was renamed Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. In part, the change was necessary to avoid confusion with another Berlin ensemble, the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Berlin, often listed on recordings and in catalogs in German as Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. And here is where the confusion worsens: this latter group is often now mistakenly listed on Internet sites, in reference works, and in catalogs as the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. Actually, such a translation of their German name would normally be quite acceptable.
In any event, the new Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin was led by music director Vladimir Ashkenazy and had as its principal guest conductor Günter Wand. The former became music director in 1989 when he succeeded Riccardo Chailly. The orchestra plays subscription series at both the Philharmonie in Berlin and the Konzerthaus, located in the former East Berlin. Eliahu Inbal, Gerd Albrecht, Lothar Zagrosek, and other distinguished conductors have frequently led the orchestra. Zagrosek made several important recordings with the Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin for Decca. The group has also recorded for Denon, Orfeo, Capriccio, and CPO. Following the tenure of Ingo Metzmacher from 2007 to 2010, Tugan Sokhiev was named as the principal conductor and artistic director, with a contract beginning in 2012. Robin Ticciati followed Sokhiev, assuming the principal conductor post in 2017. The Deutsches Sinfonie-Orchester Berlin is the most significant orchestra in Berlin after the Berlin Philharmonic.
© Robert Cummings /TiVo
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Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite / Falla: El Amor Brujo; El Sombrero De Tres Picos
Grace Bumbry, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Lorin Maazel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1966
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bartók: Piano Concertos Nos.1-3
Geza Anda, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Dvorák / Bruch / Glazunov: Violin Concertos
Johanna Martzy, Erica Morini, RIAS Symphonie-Orchester, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 2 Jul 2001
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Triple Concerto in C Major, Op. 56
Geza Anda, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, Pierre Fournier, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jul 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zemlinsky: Symphony No. 2; Psalm 23
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1988
The Qobuz Essential Discography16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rita Streich sings Immortal Melodies
Rita Streich, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Kurt Gaebel
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1958
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5; Choral Fantasia
Alicia de Larrocha, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Oct 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 8 Mar 1959
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Scriabin: Symphony No.3 / Le Poeme de l'extase
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Vladimir Ashkenazy
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bruckner: Symphony No.7
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schoenberg In Hollywood (John Mauceri – The Sound of Hollywood Vol. 16)
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Berlin Deutsches Symphony Orchestra, John Mauceri
Classical - Released by Universal Music Australia Pty. Ltd. on 1 Jan 1997
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Lalo: Cello Concerto; Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No.2
Lynn Harrell, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
G'schichten aus dem Wiener Wald, Werke von Johann Strauss II (Stereo Version)
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Miscellaneous - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Offenbach: Gaite Parisienne; Strauss: Le Bue Danube
Paul Strauss, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Jan 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Korngold: Between Two Worlds/Symphonic Serenade/Theme &
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, John Mauceri
Classical - Released by Polydor Associated Labels on 1 Jan 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Original Sound of Spain!
Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Veronica Dudarova, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Classical - Released by Music Manager on 16 Nov 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gershwin: Porgy and Bess (Highlights)
Leonard Slatkin, Simon Estes, Roberta Alexander, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Aug 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Maria Stader - In dulci jubilo
Maria Stader, Instrumental Ensemble, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Ferenc Fricsay
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on 1 Nov 1962
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zemlinsky: Die Seejungfrau/Psalms Nos.13 & 23
Ernst Senff Chamber Choir, Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Riccardo Chailly
Classical - Released by Decca Music Group Ltd. on 1 Jan 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Busoni: Turandot & Arlecchino
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Classical - Released by CapriccioNR on 3 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo