Visitors to Hamburg cannot help but be impressed by the magnificent Elbphilharmonie concert hall situated on the banks of the river Elbe. Referred to affectionally as the ‘Elphi’ by locals, this landmark building opened its doors in 2017. However, the Elphi’s resident ensemble, the now called NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, has a rich history dating back seventy-five years. Established amongst the ruins of post-war Hamburg, it is an inspiring symbol of the close collaboration and co-development with the British occupying authorities and a team of BBC staff following the horrors of World War Two.
On
BBC History,
Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wagner describes in an online article the genesis of the orchestra, now known as the NDR Elbe Philharmonic Orchestra:
https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/research/ndr-orchestra
