The orchestra has performed under the name Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin since 1993. Its tradition, however, goes back more than fifty years. It was founded in 1946 as the RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester. Ferenc Fricsay was its first principal conductor. He set standards for the repertoire, of which the music of the twentieth century is an integral part. In 1956 it changed names for the first time: the former Sender Freies Berlin (today’s RBB) took over joint financial responsibility for the orchestra, which then served two radio stations as masters, and hence was called the Radio-Symphonie-Orchester. Following Fricsay’s death at far too early an age, Lorin Maazel (1964–75) and Riccardo Chailly (1982–89) followed as principal conductors. Vladimir Ashkenazy held the position from 1989 to 1999. To avoid possible confusion in the expanded pan-Berlin cultural scene, the orchestra decided to change its well-established name in 1993, in favor of the current name: the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. Since the 2000/2001 season Kent Nagano has been principal conductor and artistic director. From 2007, Ingo Metzmacher will be his successor.
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