While we can talk all day about the best symphonies, arias, and operas out there, we also need to mind who’s performing them. A good orchestra makes the difference between a stunning rendition of Shostakovitch, and an eerie, out-of-place melody.
Selecting the right orchestra is also essential if you’re just getting into classical music. Pick a sub-par orchestra and you’ll forever be left with the impression that classical music is atrocious.
And while selecting the best orchestras in the world is a daunting, complex task, we’ve undertaken it below. Making, of course, allowances for changes in the line-up, conductors, and of course, personal tastes, here are our favorite world orchestras.
These are ensembles that, regardless of conditions, will deliver a strong, consistent performance of your favorite piece of classical music.
Berlin Philarmonic
Founded all the way back in 1882, the Berlin Philarmonic boasts an impressive history spanning 140 years, and some of the best performers in the world. It’s possible you’ve heard the Berlin Philarmoniker before and didn’t know it, since they’ve been a dominant force in the world of classical recordings ever since the 1980s.
To explain the BPO’s impressive journey, we need only look back through time. While the Berlin Philarmonic may be one of the most coveted orchestras today, it wasn’t always the case. Back in the 1880s, when it was first founded, the German capital had no musical reputation to speak of, losing face to Vienna and Leipzig. It was, one can argue, the Berlin Philarmonic, and the many great names (Claudio Abbado and Wilhelm Furtwängler to name a couple) leading it, that truly put Berlin on the musical map.
Under the masterful wand of Kirill Petrenko, the BPO stands firm as one of the best orchestras of the modern century, owing part of its success to conductor Simon Rattle, who worked a great deal to modernize the philharmonic, and to build stronger engagement with the Berlin community.
Athens Philarmonia Orchestra
Taking a leap from the 1880s, the Athens Philarmonia Orchestra is arguably much younger. Having only been founded in 2016, it rapidly made up through talent for what it lacked in age.
Supported largely by the generosity of private patrons, the Athens Philarmonia Orchestra truly stands out as a champion of Greek composers. Most performances include at least one authentic Greek composition, and the APO have often affirmed that their goal is to shine a light on forgotten national treasures, as well as more well-known international pieces.
In its brief history, the Athens Philaromonia Orchestra has played moving pieces by Nikolaos Chalikiopoulos Mantzaros, Nikos Skalkotas, Dimitrios Andronis, and Theodore Antoniou, just to name a few. They were also the first orchestra to perform Demetrios Lialios' Requiem, which hadn’t been performed in over 130 years; as well as Eleni Lambiri's Symphony in B minor, and Pavlos Carrer’s opera Maria Antonietta (not performed for 140 years).
Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Returning to Germanic shores, we’ve got the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Although it was founded all the way back in 1949, it has taken the BRSO some time to finally break through to the mainstream.
With the emergence of the BR-Klassik label, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra has been able to really shine through its flawless recordings and its attention to fine detail.
While it’s only in more recent years that the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra has risen to critical popular acclaim, it has maintained consistency throughout the decades. It saw the ascendence of some of the greatest conductors of the 20th and 21st centuries, including Rafael Kubelik and Mariss Jansons (who was the BRSO’s most recent conductor, right up to his death in 2019).
Last year, it was announced that the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra would next be helmed by none other than Simon Rattle, previously the chief conductor of the Berlin Philarmonic.
Boston Symphony Orchestra
Crossing “across the pond”, we can’t talk of great orchestras without a nod to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Second only to the New York Philarmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is among the oldest orchestras of its kind in the United States.
Founded in 1881 by Civil War veteran Henry Lee Higginson, the BSO has not only been the home of many a renowned performer but has also played a vital role on the Bostonian cultural scene.
Taking an active role in education, as well as actively working to expand Bostonians’ cultural reach, the BSO was among the most present in the live-streaming world during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently helmed by conductor Andris Nelsons, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the BSO has enjoyed a long string of accomplished conductors, among which Serge Koussevitzky, and William Steinberg. At present, the Boston Symphony Orchestra boasts works by Beethoven and Shostakovitch, conducted by Nelsons himself, with acclaimed pianist Mitsuko Uchida in the front seat.
Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Although based in London, UK, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, as its name suggests, can be seen performing all across the continent. Founded in 1981, it’s a fairly young orchestral ensemble that got its start in an unusual way.
The COE was founded by members of the European Community Youth Orchestra, some of the most promising young musicians across Europe, who’d exceeded the maximum age for the ECYO. Through their friendship and synchronicity on stage, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe was born.
In just over 40 years, the COE has grown to be one of the most well-loved names on the international music scene. It has garnered great acclaim for its renditions of Beethoven and performed under the orchestration of true masters like Claudio Abbado.
London Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra stands out through its impressive versatility and a broad range of performances. Having developed a well-honed repertoire of classical works and composers, the LSO doesn’t shy away from cheekier, more modern pieces, having performed the “Braveheart” soundtrack, and “The Best of The Beatles”.
Currently helmed by none other than Simon Rattle (who seems to ricochet from one fantastic ensemble to the next), the London Symphony Orchestra delights the world from London’s Barbican Theater, and enjoys a phenomenal brass section, to boot.
New York Philarmonic
We saw the second oldest, now it’s time for the oldest symphony orchestra in U.S. history, the New York Philarmonic. Founded in 1842, the New York Philarmonic is one of the oldest institutions of that great city.
Acting as the home of many a great conductor, including Gustav Mahler, Pierre Boulez, and current conductor Jaap Van Zweden, no name in the NYP’s history stands out more than that of Leonard Bernstein. The late, great conductor accomplished a great deal towards the musical education of youngsters, and the NYC population, at large. It was also Bernstein who kindled a revival of interest in Mahler’s work, which albeit great, was not largely performed before the NY Philarmonic did it.
Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra
As one of the oldest “musical capitals” of Europe, it’s only fair that Leipzig should continue to be the home of one of the world’s greatest orchestras to this day. In some form or another, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra has existed for over 500 years.
In more recent years, the LGO has been the home of the renowned composer (and Leipzig native) Felix Mendelssohn. Although headed by many great names down the years, the only one to truly rival Mendelssohn’s undeniable mark on the Orchestra’s history would be Kurt Masur.
In his 25-year tenure, Masur gave the LGO a more modern face, putting out wildly successful recordings of Mendelssohn’s work, as well as that of Strauss, Bruch, and Beethoven.
NHK Symphony Orchestra
Finally, the Nihon Hōsō Kyōkai (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Symphony Orchestra proudly stands on the verge of a hundred years of masterful performances. As a public broadcaster, the NHK has been led by terrific conductors, such as Wolfgang Sawallisch, Charles Dutroit, as well as its present conductor, Fabio Luisi.
While the NHK has always been deeply embedded in Tokyo’s cultural scene, more recent years have seen it rise to new, worldwide acclaim. Standing out through its renditions of Strauss and Mahler, among others, the NHK is known for its finely-tuned, emotion-filled performances.
Now that you’ve got a general idea of the best orchestras in the world, it’s time to get listening. Radio Art offers 6 channels dedicated exclusively to opera, and a whopping 34 channels offering classical music. Here, you can listen to all of the above orchestras and more, in the comfort of your own home.
