The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra both marked their 175th Birthdays in 2017. In celebration, an unprecedented joint exhibit of archival material of the histories of the two orchestras opened on March 28th, 2017 at the Haus der Musik in Vienna and was open to the public free of charge through January of 2018. Just over 208,000 local residents, tourists and school children toured the exhibit and had the opportunity to learn more about these two revered orchestras.

As former Vienna Philharmonic Chairman Andreas Grossbauer noted at the opening of the exhibit, 'Many objects, such as the founding documents, concert programs, orchestra and tour photos, musical scores and letters from Gustav Mahler, will be available for viewing by the public for the very first time.'

The documents revealed the similarities and the differences in the histories of the two orchestras and highlighted the relationships both share with many storied composers and conductors. The exhibit also shed light on the impact the National Socialist era had on both the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic.



Gift of Mahler Score from the New York Philharmonic
and the Family of Leonard Bernstein

In honor of the 175th Anniversary of the two orchestras and the fond relationship Maestro Leonard Bernstein enjoyed as a conductor for both, the New York Philharmonic and the family of Mr. Bernstein presented the Vienna Philharmonic with the score of Das Lied von der Erde by Gustav Mahler. The score contains the original marking made by Maestro Bernstein when he used it in his Vienna debut in 1966.