Philharmonia Hungarica

Hungarian Chamber Orchestra

The Philharmonia Hungarica was a symphony orchestra, founded in 1956 by Hungarian musicians who had fled their homeland after the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. The orchestra was initially based in Austria, but later found a home in Marl, Germany. Under the leadership of notable conductors such as Antal Doráti and Zoltán Rozsnyai, the Philharmonia Hungarica made numerous recordings and became known for its interpretations of works by Hungarian composers like Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály, as well as for its performances of classical and romantic repertoire. The orchestra disbanded in 2001 due to financial difficulties. During its active years, the Philharmonia Hungarica contributed significantly to the classical music scene with tours and recordings that were well-received by critics and audiences alike.