The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway. History Established in 1765 under the name Det Musicalske Selskab (The Musical Society), it later changed its name to Musikselskabet Harmonien and it is often referred to as "Harmonien" (the Harmony) by Bergen's citizens. After World War I, there was strong interest in the major Norwegian cities of Bergen and Kristiania (which later changed its name to Oslo) in having larger orchestras, and in 1919 the orchestra in Bergen was reorganized to employed 40 professional full-time musicians. ...show more

The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the world's oldest orchestral institutions. It performs some 110 concerts a year, and is based at the 1,500-seat Grieg Hall in Bergen, Norway. History Established in 1765 under the name Det Musicalske Selskab (The Musical Society), it later changed its name to Musikselskabet Harmonien and it is often referred to as "Harmonien" (the Harmony) by Bergen's citizens. After World War I, there was strong interest in the major Norwegian cities of Bergen and Kristiania (which later changed its name to Oslo) in having larger orchestras, and in 1919 the orchestra in Bergen was reorganized to employed 40 professional full-time musicians.

As of 2006 the orchestra has 98 musicians. The orchestra has had a long tradition of playing contemporary music. Ludwig van Beethoven's second symphony was performed in Bergen in the year it was published, 1804 - even before it was performed in Berlin. Bergen-born composer Edvard Grieg had close ties with the orchestra, and was artistic director from 1880 to 1882.

He also bequeathed a portion of his estate to a fund which continues to provide financial support for the orchestra. Other composers have served as principal conductor of the orchestra, including Arvid Fladmoe, Johan Halvorsen, Iver Holter, Richard Henneberg, Olav Kielland and Per Winge. Composer Harald Sæverud was frequently invited to conduct his own works, and the orchestra continues to commission and perform new compositions on a regular basis. Other composers who have conducted their own works with the orchestra include Aaron Copland, Karl Nielsen, Jean Sibelius, Witold Lutosławski, Lukas Foss, and Krzysztof Penderecki. ...show less