Music to Berlin's Ears

Under British conductor Sir Simon Rattle since 2002, the German orchestra has escaped from the shadows of its legendary leaders Wilhelm Furtwängler and Herbert von Karajan and increased the amount of modern music in its repertoire.

The Philharmonic, which is largely self-governing, has also taken on educational tasks for children and young people in a subtle shift away from its previous focus on discriminating music-lover audiences.

Pamela Rosenberg, the orchestra's chief executive who previously ran the San Francisco Opera, arrived in Berlin with Rattle and has worked to make the concerts appealing to all section of society, breathing fresh air into what was considered a somewhat stuffy orchestra.

The orchestra's modern approach can also be seen in the May Day concert's venue. The matinee concert of works by Wagner and Brahms, which was televised live in Germany, was performed in a former factory, the Kabelwerk Oberspree. The industrial monument building has been converted into an auditorium.

The documentary movie, "Rhythm Is It!," which has been shown around the globe and features the orchestra rehearsing under Rattle for a ballet performed by young immigrants from 25 nations, was another way the orchestra attempted to open to the modern world.

Old vs. new

Traditional music lovers and elite music critics have expressed discomfort at the new direction, but the Philharmonic's concerts are fully booked months in advance and sales of CD recordings, which are hitting shelves more frequently, are brisk.

The orchestra was formed during a revolt by poorly paid musicians once working under Benjamin Bilse, a Berlin director and impresario. They rebelled against him and on May 1, 1882 established the "Former Bilse Orchestra," which later evolved into the capital city's philharmonic orchestra.

Full-scale anniversary celebrations for the orchestra are set to take place this November.