Bamberger Symphoniker & Christoph Eschenbach
Biography Bamberger Symphoniker & Christoph Eschenbach
The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra
was founded in 1946 by German musicians in exile from the former Prague German Philharmonic Orchestra as well as from Karlovy Vary and Silesia. Under its first principal conductor Joseph Keilberth the ensemble quickly established itself as one of Europe’s leading orchestras, having toured the concert halls of the world more than any other German ensemble through 1968 and having been the first German orchestra to tour Asia, Africa, Europe, and the United States after the war.
Keilberth’s successors included James Loughran and Horst Stein. A parade of famous conductors has also helped create the orchestra’s characteristic sound, including Rudolph Kempe, Hans Knappertsbusch, Clemens Kraus, Eugen Jochum, Georg Solti, and Günther Wand. In more recent years the orchestra has been joined by Christoph von Dohnányi, Christoph Eschenbach, Mariss Jansons, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Giuseppe Sinopoli.
Christoph Eschenbach
is in demand as a distinguished guest conductor with the finest orchestras and opera houses throughout the world, including those in Vienna, Berlin, Paris, London, New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Milan, Rome, Munich, Dresden, Leipzig, Madrid, Tokyo and Shanghai.
He is currently music director of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, principal guest conductor of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and honorary conductor of the Bamberger Symphoniker. In June 2017 Eschenbach received the title of conductor laureate of the National Symphony Orchestra after serving as music director (2010–17). Other past positions include music director of the Orchestre de Paris (2000–10), The Philadelphia Orchestra (2003–08), NDR Symphony Orchestra (1998– 2004) and Houston Symphony (1988–99).
A prolific recording artist, Eschenbach has an impressive discography as both a conductor and pianist. He was mentored by George Szell and Herbert von Karajan. His many accolades include the French distinction of Légion d’honneur and the prestigious Ernst von Siemens Music Prize in honour of his life’s dedication to music.
