New York Philharmonic

Generally considered the oldest orchestra in the U.S., the New York Philharmonic is an American powerhouse. Taking advantage of its high visibility, it developed into a sometimes innovative upholder of tradition and a trailblazer of new work. Founded in 1842, it took decades for the organisation to achieve genuine stability. In 1877, Theodore Thomas kicked off a 14-year stint as conductor, dramatically improving the orchestra, followed by Anton Seidl in 1891, the year Carnegie Hall opened (and became its home until 1962). In 1921, the Phil was fortified by a merger with New York’s National Symphony Orchestra, where Willem Mengelberg became its primary conductor, and, in 1928, it absorbed the New York Symphony Society. Arturo Toscanini became sole conductor in 1930, and a variety of guest conductors led the orchestra after he stepped down in 1936. Leonard Bernstein was appointed music director in 1957, making him the first American-born figure to land the position. Bernstein’s tenure solidified the orchestra’s reputation: he launched an ambitious commissioning project, hosted the CBS TV series Young People’s Concerts and guided the orchestra’s relocation to Lincoln Center. Bernstein was succeeded by Pierre Boulez in 1971, before Zubin Mehta and Kurt Masur shepherded the institution toward the 21st century. Lorin Maazel took over in 2002, and was at the helm for the Phil’s historic visit to North Korea in 2008. He was succeeded by Alan Gilbert in 2009, followed in 2018 by Jaap van Zweden, who has strengthened the orchestra’s forward-looking reputation.