Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the "Big Five" symphony orchestras in the United States and usually considered among the finest in the world. Since 2001, its annual series of concerts hav

The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the "Big Five" symphony orchestras in the United States and usually considered among the finest in the world. Since 2001, its annual series of concerts have been performed in the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, near the Academy of Music, its old home of half a century since the orchestra was founded.

It was founded in 1900 by Fritz Scheel, who also acted as its first conductor. In 1907, Karl Pohlig took over the post, but it was Leopold Stokowski, who became principal conductor in 1912, who made it famous. Under him, the orchestra gained a reputation for great virtuosity.