Berliner Philharmoniker

There are few orchestras that have the exalted reputation and prestige of the Berlin Philharmonic, an ensemble that has existed since the mid-1800s. Listing the names of the conductors the group has had over the years would be enough to impress any fan of classical music -- Hans von Bulow, Herbert von Karajan and Claudio Abbado have all held the reigns and expertly guided the top-notch musicians. Guest conductors have been towering figures in music -- Richard Strauss, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. The orchestra has a long history of championing the works of modern composers such as Schoenberg and Hindemith, even when doing so meant stoking the ire of the Nazi regime. This is not to diminish its ability at performing masterful versions of the unequivocal classics: one need only listen to the group's interpretation of Bach's Air in D Major to hear the beauty and precision achieved by the Berlin Philharmonic.