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1990/91
After reunification, the Dresden Philharmonic goes on tour through the former West Germany and other European countries.

1992
The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra becomes a ‘subordinate institution’ of the state capital.

1994
The ‘Förderverein Dresdner Philharmonie e. V.’ is founded.

1994/95
Michel Plasson becomes chief conductor of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra. During his tenure, attendance figures increase by 40%.

Anmerkungen eines Musikers

1995
The orchestra makes a guest appearance in Israel to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. The Dresden Philharmonic also celebrates its 125th anniversary. Among other things, Kurt Masur conducts festive concerts, there are commissioned works, CD productions, reissues of historical recordings, a new chronicle and an exhibition. 

16.-18.03.2000
The orchestra is on tour in Cuba. As there is a large hole in the concert hall stage in Havana, only the chamber ensemble can perform. The programme originally included works by Beethoven, Brahms and Schumann.

01.01.2001
Marek Janowski becomes chief conductor, which leads to an enormous increase in the orchestra's performance. 

31.12.2003
Marek Janowski terminates his contract as chief conductor as the new concert hall he was promised is not realised.

One of the great masters of the music of the German tradition, Marek Janowski is recognised throughout the world for his interpretation of Wagner, Strauss, Bruckner, Brahms, Hindemith and the Second Viennese School, and has an extensive and distinguished discography in this repertoire. His Wagner opera cycle with the Rundfunk- Sinfonieorchester Berlin was held to have set a new standard of performance in concertante opera. BBC Music Magazine called the live recording on Pentatone “the sound of a Ring for the 21st century." Marek Janowski enjoys an outstanding reputation amongst the premier orchestras across the globe and regularly works with orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Bayreuth Festival and Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Oslo Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Opera Nomori and in the USA, the San Francisco Symphony, Chicago SO, National Symphony Orchestra amongst others. Lauded for his ability to create orchestras of international standing, he has been sought after as Music Director and Chief Conductor. Most recently, he was Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, both from 2019 to 2023 and beforehand from 2001 to 2003, and will return as guest conductor for a number of projects in the coming seasons. Previously, from 2002 until 2016 he was Artistic Director of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and from 2000 to 2005 he served as Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo. Between 1984 and 2000, as Music Director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Marek Janowski took the orchestra to a position of pre-eminence in France, as well as abroad. From 1986 to 1990, in addition to his position in Paris, Janowski held the title of Chief Conductor of the Gürzenich- Orchester in Cologne and between 1997 and 1999, he was also First Guest Conductor of the Deutsches SymphonieOrchester Berlin. Born in Warsaw and educated in Germany, Marek Janowski’s artistic path led him from Assistant positions in Aachen, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Hamburg to his appointment as General Music Director in Freiburg im Breisgau (1973-75) and Dortmund (1975-79). Whilst in Dortmund, his reputation grew rapidly, and he was invited to conduct in many of Europe’s leading opera houses. He has been a regular guest at every world-renowned opera house since the late 1970s, from the Metropolitan Opera New York to the Bayerischer Staatsoper Munich; from Chicago and San Francisco to Hamburg; from Vienna and Berlin to Paris. From the 1990s on, Janowski began to concentrate on the great German symphonic repertoire for which he enjoys an outstanding reputation. Janowski’s distinguished discography, built over the past 40 years, includes the iconic recording of the Wagner’s Ring Cycle with the Staatskapelle Dresden (1980-83). It also includes several other complete operas and symphonic cycles, such as his Bruckner cycle with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, recorded for Pentatone, many of which have been awarded international prizes. Further acclaimed releases on Pentatone include Carl Maria von Weber’s ‘Der Freischütz’, recorded alongside Lise Davidsen and Andreas Schager as well as the Frankfurt Radio Symphony and MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Beethoven symphonies Nos. 5 & 6 with WDR Symphony Orchestra and, most recently, Schubert’s Unfinished and Great symphonies with Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra. Verdi’s ‘Un ballo in maschera’ with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo, the Transylvania State Philharmonic Choir, and a stellar cast, headed by Freddie De Tommaso, Lester Lynch and Saioa Hernández received 5 star reviews and was recently selected as the Opera Choice in the September 2023 issue of BBC Music Magazine.

November 2004
During a tour of the USA, the New York Times speaks of ‘one of the best German orchestras of all time’. It can ‘rightly boast a connection with Brahms’.

Spring 2007
The Kulturpalast is temporarily closed for fire safety reasons and concerts are held in the Kreuzkirche and the International Congress Centre instead. Within 5 months, the Kulturpalast undergoes a fire safety refurbishment.

2007/2008
The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra has its first ‘Artist in Residence’: Christoph Eschenbach. In addition, formats for families and activities for schools are established.

July 2008
On the occasion of the planned remodelling, an architectural competition is held for the Kulturpalast with a new concert hall. 

31.12.2009
After 50 years, the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra travels to China again and performs a New Year's Eve concert in Beijing.

19.10.2010
For the first time since 1969, the orchestra performs in the remodelled Great Hall of the Hygiene Museum.

27.08.2011
Michael Sanderling takes up his post as chief conductor. It is also the last season opening in the old ballroom of the Kulturpalast. Works by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev are performed. 

June 2012
The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra performs its last concert in the Kulturpalast ballroom with several works by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák.

information

Venues 2012-2017: Atrium in the Albertinum (1000 seats) Theatre (800 seats) Frauenkirche (1600 seats) German Hygiene Museum (430 seats) Crown Hall in Albrechtsberg Palace (200 seats) Kreuzkirche (3000 seats) Palace Chapel in the Residenzschloss (200 seats)  

May 2015
To mark the topping-out ceremony of the new hall on 30 May 2015, the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra will be giving construction site concerts. Works by John Adams, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Gustav Holst will be performed.

28.04.2017
The Kulturpalast reopens after five years of renovation. The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra inaugurates its new concert hall with a festive concert conducted by Michael Sanderling. Works by Shostakovich, Schubert, Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Beethoven will be performed. 

07.10.2019

The 50th anniversary of the opening of the Kulturpalast is celebrated with an anniversary gala.

2020
The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 150th anniversary.