The Berliner Philharmoniker (Berlin Philharmonic) was founded in 1882 and is a democratic, self-governing orchestra with 128 world class musicians. It orchestra is located in the Philharmonie in Berlin, Germany, and was voted number three of the top European Orchestras after the Vienna Philharmonic and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
Principal conductors from the past and present include: Ludwig von Brenner (1882-1887), Hans von Bülow (1887-1892), Arthur Nikisch (1895-1922), Wilhelm Furtwängler (1922-1945), Leo Borchard (May-August 1945), Sergiu Celibidache (1945-1952), Wilhelm Furtwängler (1952-1954), Herbert von Karajan (1954-1989), Claudio Abbado (1989-2002), Simon Rattle (2002-present).
Select concerts are shown live online in the Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall.