The radio orchestra was founded by British occupation authorities after World War II, as Radio Hamburg was the only radio station in what would later be West Germany not to be destroyed during the war. Its first musicians came mostly from the ranks of the old Nazi-controlled Grosses Rundfunkorchester des Reichssenders Hamburg. Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt was living near the Hamburg area, and was given the task of assembling the orchestra, which occurred over a period of six months. The orchestra gave its first concert in November 1945, conducted by Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt, with Yehudi Menuhin as soloist. The orchestra first visited the UK in 1951, as part of the concerts celebrating the re-opening in Manchester of the Free Trade Hall.

The orchestra has gained great renown in the great classical and romantic composers such as Bruckner and Beethoven as well as in contemporary works.

Since 2004, the orchestra's principal conductor has been Christoph von Dohnányi. The current principal guest conductor is Alan Gilbert.

Principal Conductors

• Christoph von Dohnányi (2004–)
• Christoph Eschenbach (1998–2004)
• Herbert Blomstedt (1996–1998)
• John Eliot Gardiner (1991–1994)
• Günter Wand (1982–1990)
• Klaus Tennstedt (1979–1981)
• Moshe Atzmon (1972–1976)
• Hans Schmidt-Isserstedt (1945–1971)

References

External links

• Homepage (in German)
• Article at coconuts.com
• Article at artsbird.com