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"Lets make music as friends"... so succinctly Leonard Bernstein once formulated his vision of the power of common music making people joining together. And next to Leonard Bernstein, it was Yehudi Menuhin, who inspired Justus Frantz, to launch the 1995 Philharmonie der Nationen (Philharmonia of Nations) as an international, professional orchestra. A body of sound that nurtures the classical musical world cultural heritage that Europe - especially Germany - has left to humanity and, in the case of worldwide presences, makes sound use of humanism in a spirit of peace. Musicians from numerous nations meet several times a year for intensive work and touring projects. Serbs play with Slovenes, Syrians with Israelis, Chinese with French, Russians with Ukrainians. The secret of their peaceful coexistence is their common language - the music.
Justus Frantz succeeded in shaping the most talented musicians in the world to create a homogenous top-sounding body. Numerous CD recordings document this impressively. The Philharmonie der Nationen has given around 1,300 concerts since its foundation around the world. In 1996, the orchestra accompanied the state visit of the German Federal President Roman Herzog in China. At the invitation of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Philharmonie der Nationen appeared in 1998 in the United Nations Assembly Hall in New York. On October 1, 2000, at the invitation of Federal President Johannes Rau and Mrs. Friede Springer, the Philharmonie der Nationen in the Kuppel des Berliner Reichstagsgebäudes erected a signal against right-wing radicalism in Germany. In the summer of 2001, the Philharmonie der Nationen under the direction of Justus Frantz gave the private concert for Pope John Paul II at his summer residence Castelgandolfo.
In 2003, the manuscript of L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 was included in the World Documentary Heritage Directory Memory of the World by UNESCO. at the ceremony in the Berliner Konzerthaus the work was performed with the Philharmonie der Nationen under the direction of Justus Frantz. At the invitation of the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, the Philharmonie der Nationen performed in 2004 together with the KawaZuluNatal Philharmonia Orchestra and South African choirs on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the end of apartheid. In October 2006, the orchestra was in Asia for the "Montblanc Friendship Tour China" and gave, among other acclaimed concerts in Beijing and Shanghai. In May 2015, the Philharmonie der Nationen, with two highly acclaimed memorial concerts in Berlin and Frankfurt, set a musical symbol of the "liberation" of National Socialism 70 years ago. In 2015, the Philharmonie der Nationen celebrated its 20th anniversary with two major festive concerts.
Numerous international tours have taken the Philharmonie der Nationen around the globe, performing in the large halls of the most important music centers. However, the orchestra can not be characterized only by its international success. Regular appearances in medium-sized and smaller cities also create contact with a wide audience, as well as offering various educational programs. |
