In 1996 the Recklinghausen Westphalian Symphony Orchestra and The City of Gelsenkirchen Philharmonic amalgamated, and the New Westphalian Philharmonic was born.

At the head of the orchestra is Viennese Johannes Wildner who, since his appointment in 1997 as  musical director, has carried forward and further developed the merger of these two orchestras as well as enhancing their standing in the region.

Considered to be the most important symphony orchestra in the region, it offers a wide range of works. As well as an annual programme including nine symphony concerts and numerous special concerts, the New Westphalian Philharmonic is  the opera orchestra for the Gelsenkirchen Music Theatre. Its home sites include Gelsenkirchen, Recklinghausen, Kamen and the north Ruhr.

The orchestra devotes much of its time to working with children and young people and supports regional cultural policy through its close workings with local choirs performing large-scale oratorios.

Autumn 2000 saw the orchestra celebrating its international debut when it was invited to perform in the Chinese capital of Beijing at the Beijing Festival. Sold out performances of Verdi’s Aida and Bizet’s Carmen to audiences of over 60,000 in the Arena AufSchalke, a Beethoven-Marathon encompassing five complete piano concerts for 2,500 spectators in Recklinghausen Marktplatz and Carmina Burana performed in a tram depot are just a few examples of the extraordinary diversity of this orchestra.

Neue Philharmonie Westfalen
Castroper Str. 12c
45665 Recklinghausen
Tel: 02361 - 48860
Fax: 02361 - 488660
info@neue-philharmonie-westfalen.de
www.neue-philharmonie-westfalen.de