The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is one of the world's leading chamber orchestras. The Estonian star conductor Paavo Järvi has been the orchestra's Artistic Director since 2004.

The success of this artistic collaboration speaks for itself. "The event of the summer," wrote the New York Times in August 2005. For Die Welt, The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is "one of the most transparent and sensitive orchestras today." And for Vienna's Standard, the concert of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen with Paavo Järvi in August 2004 was one of the "rare surprises of the past summer's Salzburg Festival" in which the orchestra established itself once and for all in the international ensemble jet set. In August 2007 the New York Sun wrote "The authoritative Beethoven orchestra of our day".

The primary focus of the collaboration between Paavo Järvi and the orchestra – and thus the basis for these glowing reviews – is the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven. What might appear to be pure routine and preservation of musical monuments, during the concerts regularly prove to be spirited and highly competent new versions of these often-heard works. The Beethoven Project, in which Ludwig van Beethoven's complete symphonies are being performed and recorded in the currently leading-edge 5.1 DSD technology, will go on with symphony No. 9, which will in 2008 be performed as the opening concert of the International Beethovenfest Bonn. The first CD of the Beethoven cycle with symphonies nos. 3&8 has won the Annual German Record Critics’ Prize.

The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen appears with Paavo Järvi and other renowned guest conductors and internationally sought-after soloists at major festivals and concert venues throughout the world. Since 2005 the ensemble has been Orchestra in Residence at the International Beethovenfest in Bonn. The orchestra continually delights audiences with its unique and refreshing style of musical interpretation, combined with an unerring instinct for imaginative, well thought-out programs. The highly motivated chamber music-like approach of each player enables the ensemble to present outstanding concerts, even without a conductor.

On this basis, long-standing and productive musical friendships have developed with internationally renowned soloists such as Sabine Meyer, Viktoria Mullova, Heinz Holliger, Olli Mustonen, Hélène Grimaud, Heinrich Schiff, and Christian Tetzlaff.

The orchestra's repertoire ranges from Baroque to contemporary music. Collaboration with specialists in specific genres has been a characteristic feature of the ensemble from the start. Thus, its work with conductors like Ton Koopman, Trevor Pinnock, and Marc Minkowski is just as natural as its collaborations with Heinz Holliger and Pierre Boulez. In addition, the orchestra also continues to devote particular interest to "crossover" projects.

Founded in 1980, The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen initially consisted of a group of outstanding music students who drew up a grassroots constitution, in order to optimally motivate the individual members both personally and musically. Early acid tests, such as an appearance at the UN in 1983 and Gidon Kremer's invitation to Lockenhaus in 1984/85, laid the foundations for the orchestra's rapidly growing international reputation. In 1987 the ensemble was institutionalized as a professional chamber orchestra in Frankfurt.

Since 1992 The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen has been based in the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, where it has become an indispensable part of the city's musical life. Every season the orchestra presents two subscription series, special concerts, two chamber music series, and the open-air festival "Sommer in Lesmona." The ensemble has also been an essential component of the Bremen Music Festival since 1998, appearing in outstanding musical theatrical productions with Klaus Maria Brandauer as well as other artists.

The orchestra's former Principal Guest Conductors or Artistic Directors have included Mario Venzago, Heinrich Schiff, Jirí Belohlávek, and Thomas Hengelbrock. Daniel Harding held the post of Music Director from 1999 to 2003.

The Wind Soloists of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen have been a permanent ensemble since 1990. They undertake many tours within Germany and abroad and have recorded a number of award-winning CDs.

Numerous CD recordings for prestigious record labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, Teldec, BMG, Virgin Classics, Decca, Berlin Classics, and PentaTone document the diverse repertoire of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.

In addition to their concert activity, educational projects have been particularly important to the musicians for 25 years. These include concert introductions and workshops as well as innovative collaborations with schools and adult education institutions.

The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is organized as a company in which the musicians are sole partners. Thus, they assume full responsibility not only for artistic but for financial matters as well. This is all the more remarkable since the orchestra is only 40% subsidized and generates the remaining 60% itself.

The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen has analyzed its artistic and entrepreneurial activities with Prof. Dr. Christian Scholz of the University of Saarbrücken, one of the leading experts on the subject of high-performance teams. Based on the findings of this study, a management tool, the 5 Seconds Model, was developed, which the company orchestra uses to optimize its (high) performance on a continuing basis. Together with Prof. Dr. Scholz, the orchestra now offers the 5 Seconds Model to interested companies from the business and industry sectors as management training for executives.

The loyal support of partners and sponsors, such as the orchestra's primary sponsors, Kraft Foods, the Bremen Sparkasse, and KPMG, plays a vital role in the tremendous success of the now 25-year-old Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. The work of the orchestra would not be possible, however, without the generous assistance of the City of Bremen in particular. In addition, numerous other friends and patrons also support the orchestra's projects and make an essential contribution to ensuring that The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen can continue to work toward achieving its artistic goals on a long-term basis.


The partners of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen