About
The Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie (North West German Philharmonic) is a German symphony orchestra based in Herford. It was founded in 1950 and, along with Philharmonie Südwestfalen and Landesjugendorchester NRW, is one of the 'official' orchestras (Landesorchester) of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The orchestra has been shaped by conductors such as Wilhelm Schüchter, Hermann Scherchen and Andris Nelsons, has regularly served several cities in northwest Germany, toured internationally and recorded unusual repertory. Eugene Tzigane was conductor from 2010 to 2014, succeeded by Yves Abel.
History
A predecessor of the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie was founded in 1946 under this name in Bad Pyrmont by members of the former Linzer Reichs-Bruckner-Orchester and the Prager Deutsche Philharmonie. In 1950 this orchestra merged with the Herforder Sinfonisches Orchester. The new orchestra was first named Städtebund-Symphoniker, but in 1951 Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie.
Funding
The orchestra is funded partly by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia and an association of communities in the region Ostwestfalen-Lippe. Members of the association are the cities Bad Salzuflen, Bünde, Detmold, Herford, Lemgo, Minden and Paderborn and the districts Herford und Lippe.
Activities
The 78 musicians play about 120 concerts per year, mainly in the cities which support the orchestra, but also on international tours to the United States and Japan, among others. They have played in concert halls such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Konzerthaus Dortmund and Großes Festspielhaus in Salzburg.
The orchestra collaborates with the public radio station WDR3. They recorded more than 200 records and CDs. The orchestra has accompanied singers such as Anna Netrebko, Jose Cura, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti und Renée Fleming. The players are engaged in pedagogical programs for schools and young listeners, reaching more than 12,000 children a year.
The orchestra conducts an international summer academy, in 2010 with Fabio Bidini.