The Philadelphia Orchestra

Renowned American Symphony Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, was founded in 1900 and quickly established itself as a leading American ensemble. Renowned for its distinctive sound, often referred to as the "Philadelphia Sound," this characteristic was largely shaped by its famous conductor Leopold Stokowski, who led the orchestra from 1912 to 1941. The orchestra has had a series of distinguished music directors including Eugene Ormandy, Riccardo Muti, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Christoph Eschenbach, and currently Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Over its illustrious career, The Philadelphia Orchestra has made numerous recordings of a wide range of repertoire from classical to contemporary works. They have performed with many celebrated soloists and have premiered many important works. The orchestra is also known for its outreach and educational programs, bringing classical music to new audiences both at home in Philadelphia and around the world through tours and broadcasts.