The Bamberg Symphony Orchestra – has always enjoyed a special status in the music world. The Orchestra can count on the support of 6,000 subscribers – an extraordinary number in a city of only 70,000 inhabitants.

In 1946, former members of Prague's German Philharmonic met fellow musicians who had also been obliged to flee their homes, they founded the ‘Bamberger Tonkünstlerorchester', later renamed ‘Bamberger Symphoniker'.

The first Principal Conductor was Joseph Keilberth, who remained in post in Bamberg until his death in 1968. The Principal Conductor's baton was taken up by James Loughran and then Horst Stein. Eugen Jochum the Bamberg Symphony's First Honorary Conductor – creating an unmistakable sonic identity which is intimately bound up with the Bamberg Symphony.

Since January 2000, the Orchestra's artistic direction has been in the hands of Jonathan Nott. Under Jonathan Nott, the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra has tackled the most diverse repertoire, but most recently the Orchestra's main focus has been on the music of 20th Century.

In addition the Orchestra and its Principal Conductor are frequent guests at the leading festivals, such as the Lucerne Festival, Salzburg Festival, BBC Proms, Edinburgh International Festival. In the summer 2013, on the occasion of Richard Wagner's 200th birthday, the Bamberg Symphony will once again be Orchestra in Residence at the Lucerne Festival where they will perform Wagner's "Ring" under the baton of Jonathan Nott.

Principal Conductor: Jonathan Nott

In 80's, Jonathan Nott left Britain to develop his conducting career in Germany via the traditional Kapellmeister system. In 1991, Jonathan Nott took up the post of First Kapellmeister at the Hessischer Staatstheater in Wiesbaden and during the 1995/1996 season was also the house's interim Generalmusikdirektor.

Jonathan Nott took up his post as Principal Conductor of the Bamberg Symphony in 2000. At the helm of this Orchestra, so steeped in tradition, Jonathan Nott has enjoyed huge success ever since inheriting the mantle of his predecessors, a legacy he is maintaining well into the 21st Century.

Under Jonathan Nott the Orchestra has tackled the most diverse repertoire, but most recently the Orchestra's main focus has been on the music of Mahler. Of the Mahler Symphony cycle, Nos.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 have appeared. The CD of the Ninth has won several prestigious prizes, such as the 2010 MIDEM Classical Award.

In 2004 the Orchestra mounted the first Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition, which was quickly recognized internationally as a first-class forum for the development of new musical talent. Ever since that first competition, Jonathan Nott has been President of the Competition's jury.

During the last few years, Jonathan Nott has stood at the helm of nearly all the leading orchestras of Europe and the US, such as Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and New York Philharmonic.

Review:

"Together,I think they've created one of the most exciting partnerships in orchestral music."

- The Guardian

"Mr.Nott,the English conductor who has directed the Bamberg Symphony,in Germany,since 2000,is an astute and exciting musician who has won enormous respect within the field...The orchestra was drifting artistically and struggling financially during the late'90s,when Mr.Nott was invited to take over.Since then it has thrived,with loyal audiences, tours and recordings."

- New York Times