The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra (Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, RSB) dates back to the beginnings of music broadcasting in 1923. The orchestra’s chief conductors, including Sergiu Celibidache, Eugen Jochum and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, have all helped to create the ensemble’s exceptional sound. Since its foundation, important composers such as Sergey Prokofiev, Richard Strauss and Igor Stravinsky have conducted the orchestra as well as promising young conductors such as Andris Nelsons, Vasily Petrenko, Jakub Hrůša and Lahav Shani. Alongside regular tours of Asia the orchestra also appears at German and European festivals. Since completing the ten-part Wagner cycle in 2013 the orchestra has secured its place among Europe’s top concert orchestras. From 2002 to 2015 Marek Janowski was chief conductor and artistic director of the RSB. Vladimir Jurowski has been named as his successor, starting in the 2017–18 season. The RSB is part of the Rundfunk Orchester und Chöre GmbH Berlin (roc berlin).

Photo: Kai Bienert

As an artist with a declared interest in the relationship of overlapping genres and styles of music, the conductor Frank Strobel, born in Munich in 1966, has concerned himself with the classical and romantic repertoire and the music of the twentieth century, as well as the broader field of music and film. He has conducted first performances of works by Franz Schreker, Alexander Zemlinsky and Siegfried Wagner as well as a series of premières of more recent music theatre works. In addition to his concert activity Frank Strobel has an international reputation as a film director and is an artistic adviser for music and film festivals. Until 1998 he was Principal Conductor of the Babelsberg German Film Orchestra, and since 2000 has been Artistic Director of the European Film Philharmonic, of which he is a co-founder.

Alfred Schnittke’s work has won wide acceptance in recent years, particularly since political changes in the former Soviet Union. His early studies in Vienna were followed by formal training at the Moscow Conservatory, where he later taught. His musical language is eclectic, combining a number of styles, contemporary and traditional.

Orchestral Music

Orchestral music by Schnittke includes a series of interesting concertos or works for solo instrument and orchestra. These include concertos for violin, for cello, for oboe and harp, for viola and for piano. A series of concerti grossi is of significance, along with the ‘St Florian’ Symphony (the second of eight symphonies) and In memoriam for solo viola and orchestra.

Chamber Music

Schnittke’s chamber music includes string quartets and sonatas for violin and for cello and piano, along with a Sonata in the Olden Style for violin and piano and a Suite in the Old Style for the same instruments. His Piano Quintet shows some of the influence of Shostakovich, and his String Trio, commissioned to mark the centenary of the birth of Alban Berg and the 50th anniversary of his death, reflects diverse Viennese elements.