Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz – Ambassador for the state of Rhineland-Palatinate

The Staatsphilharmonie (State Philharmonic Orchestra) is the state’s most important orchestra and contributes to its primary symphonic services. It is also considered to be the symphonic orchestra of the Rhine-­­Neckar metropolitan region. Its musical styles range from great symphony music through mus­icals to film music and silent film projects.

As early as its foundation stages, the Staatsphilharmonie attracted attention with conductors such as Richard Strauss and Hermann Abendroth. In particular, head conductors such as Christoph Eschen­bach and Leif Segerstam helped the orchestra achieve international repute. Since summer 2009, artistic responsibility has been borne by Karl-Heinz Steffens. Under his initiative, such works as the cycle “Beethoven and the 20th Century” and the nationally-renowned “RING Halle Ludwigshafen” have come into being. The ambitious metropolitan region summer music festival MODERN TIMES and the orchestra’s summer residence in Speyer have also developed under Steffens’ direction.

The orchestra’s subscription programmes are performed in the state capital of Mainz, the Rosengarten in Mannheim, the Konzert­haus in Karlsruhe and in the Heidelberg City Hall. In its “residence city” of Ludwigs­­hafen, the Staatsphilharmonie performs in philharmonic concerts in the Concert Hall of the Pfalzbau and in the BASF Feierabendhaus.