Über 60 Jahre Freunde der Berliner Philharmoniker e.V.: Der Verein stellt sich vor
Goals and Support
Support, sponsorship, assistance – the Friends of the Berliner Philharmoniker demonstrate their commitment in a variety of ways:
- Purchase of high-quality instruments
- Improvement of the facilities in the Philharmonie, for example, the sound system and the design of the Foyer
- Critical examination and presentation of the orchestra’s history
- Support of specific orchestra projects
Last but not least, the board members of our association provide advice and support to the Berliner Philharmoniker Foundation.
Here are some examples of how we have supported the Berliner Philharmoniker so far
Purchase of high-quality instruments
The Friends of the Berliner Philharmoniker regularly provide the musicians with high-quality instruments, including historical instruments: a new harp in 2020, a Steinway concert grand piano in 2018, a viola made by Domenico Busan (Venice 1780) in 2016, a violin from the workshop of Giovanni Battista Guadagnini (Milan 1754) in 2013, purchased from Axel Gerhardt, a former member of the Philharmoniker, and a heckelphone in 2011. In addition, the Friends subsidized the refurbishment of the organ in the Great Hall.

(Photo: Peter Adamik)
Multifunctional: the new mobile video studio

An inconspicuous wagon has stood on the east side of the Chamber Music Hall since June of 2020. When you open the door, you are suddenly in an ultramodern video studio with six workstations – from the production manager to the camera and score assistants. As a result, music projects, family concerts and the appearances of the Karajan Academy can now be recorded in the Chamber Music Hall – with the same image quality as in the Great Hall of the Philharmonie. Thanks to the financing by the Friends of the Berliner Philharmoniker, this project was completed within one year.
Concert support
The Friends also support the organization of special concert events, such as Kirill Petrenko’s inaugural concert as chief conductor at the Brandenburg Gate.
The Europakonzert, which is presented every year on 1 May in different European cities, is also supported by us.

Abbado bust

In memory of Claudio Abbado, who passed away in 2014, the Friends of the Berliner Philharmoniker contributed a bust of the conductor. The sculpture, which was unveiled on 11 October 2015 in the Foyer of the Philharmonie, is a work by the sculptor Bertrand Freiesleben, who modelled Abbado’s head using photographs and video material. Martin Hoffmann, the general manager at that time, paid tribute to the sculpture with the following words: “It fills us with great joy to create a special place of personal remembrance for Claudio Abbado with this bust.” The Abbado bust was displayed in the South Foyer of the Philharmonie, along with those of the other late former chief conductors of the orchestra.