The orchestra celebrated its 240th anniversary in October 2005 with Gala-concerts in Bergen and Oslo. As part of the celebrations the orchestra’s new Copeman Hart Organ, donated by Karen Margrethe and Hans Peter Westfal-Larsen, was inaugurated in the Grieg Hall. A new sponsor-agreement with the biggest financial concern in Norway, DnB NOR, has recently been signed. This deal makes increased international touring possible.
The orchestra employs 97 musicians and gives more than 100 concerts a year. Most of the concerts are held in the Grieg Hall in Bergen, but the orchestra is also touring Norway as well as abroad.
Edvard Grieg had close ties to the Orchestra and was artistic director during the years 1880-1882. Artistic directors and chief conductors who over the past century have contributed to the international success of the Bergen Philharmonic have been Harald Heide (1908-1948), Karsten Andersen (1964-1985), Aldo Ceccato (1985-1990), Dmitri Kitajenko (1990-1998) and Simone Young (1998-2002). Leopold Stokowski, Pierre Monteux, Sir Thomas Beecham, Sir John Barbirolli, Neeme Järvi, Sir Neville Marriner, Carlo Maria Giulini, Esa Pekka Salonen and Mariss Jansons have all guest conducted the Bergen Philharmonic.
Since fall 2003, American Andrew Litton has been the Orchestra's Principal Conductor. Litton’s contract was renewed spring 2005 and he is now titled Music Director. He is also Artistic Director for the Minnesota Orchestra Summerfest. Maestro Litton is one of very few Americans to head a major American symphony and is the first American to lead one of Europe’s oldest established orchestras.
THE PRESS ABOUT ANDREW LITTON AND THE BERGEN PHILHARMONIC
«Let this be made clear from the start. Bergen’s version of Mahler’s 8. Symphony is a gift to those who have been lucky enough to get hold of a ticket. Under Andrew Litton’s total control, this mighty manifest was moulded with character, devotion and force. It was the sound of a collective energy, expressed through a forest of contributions from individuals, groups and the collective. Thoughtfully interpreted and soulfully played.», Bergens Tidende
«Brilliant orchestral playing. There was a lot of it. ‘The Rite of Spring’ was treated with great aggressiveness. It can take it, even if it can also give room for reflections in the religious rites’ adorational mysteries which the composer envisaged. …there was brilliant and virtuoso orchestral playing which was very much appreciated by the audience.», Aftenposten (Oslo)
«With Mahler we get the whole package. He is truly generous with his gifts; an abundance of pithy themes and instrumental artistry pass through us for an hour and a half to the finish. Likewise, Andrew Litton is a blessedly generous conductor. Deeply engaged with the material, he gives of himself and inspires the uttermost from the musicians.», Bergens Tidende
«A supreme performance was followed by long, stormy ovations in a sold out hall», Vjesnik, (Zagreb).
THE BERGEN PHILHARMONIC ON CD - GRIEG’S HERITAGE
The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra has recorded the complete orchestral works of Edvard Grieg under the baton of the Norwegian conductor Ole Kristian Ruud. This landmark first recording of the entire opus by a Norwegian orchestra is in collaboration with the cutting-edge Swedish label BIS. The series, consisting of 8 cds, has been released to extraordinary critical acclaim.