The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Israel’s oldest and most influential cultural institutions.  Since its founding in 1936, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has dedicated itself to presenting the world’s greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world.  Founded by Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra represents the fulfillment of his dream "to unite the desire of the country for an orchestra with the desire of the Jewish musicians for a country." Huberman spent countless hours persuading first-chair musicians of Eastern European and German orchestras, who had lost their jobs as a result of Naziism, to emigrate to Palestine.  In doing so, Huberman created an "orchestra of soloists" which, under the esteemed leadership of Zubin Mehta, continues to absorb new immigrants and serve as a gathering point for musicians from all over the world.

Major soloists and conductors have always performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.  Its inaugural concert was conducted by Arturo Toscanini who felt his participation was a means to demonstrate his opposition to Fascism.  Its members traveled in armored cars to play in a besieged Jerusalem during the War of Independence and, among Israelis, the memory of IPO Laureate Conductor Leonard Bernstein conducting the Orchestra before 5,000 soldiers on the Negev dunes after the battle for Beersheba, is an historic moment.  Through it all, the Orchestra has enjoyed associations with such renowned artists as Emanuel Ax, Daniel Barenboim, Yefim Bronfman, Principal Guest Conductor Yoel Levi, Yo-Yo Ma, Lorin Maazel, Honorary Guest Conductor Kurt Masur, Itzhak Perlman, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Arthur Rubinstein, Gil Shaham, Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman. Their time and talent have enriched the cultural life of Israel and have helped the Orchestra to maintain its high artistic standards.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Israel’s oldest and most influential cultural institutions.  Since its founding in 1936, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has dedicated itself to presenting the world’s greatest music to audiences in Israel and around the world.  Founded by Polish violinist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra represents the fulfillment of his dream "to unite the desire of the country for an orchestra with the desire of the Jewish musicians for a country." Huberman spent countless hours persuading first-chair musicians of Eastern European and German orchestras, who had lost their jobs as a result of Naziism, to emigrate to Palestine.  In doing so, Huberman created an "orchestra of soloists" which, under the esteemed leadership of Zubin Mehta, continues to absorb new immigrants and serve as a gathering point for musicians from all over the world.

Major soloists and conductors have always performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.  Its inaugural concert was conducted by Arturo Toscanini who felt his participation was a means to demonstrate his opposition to Fascism.  Its members traveled in armored cars to play in a besieged Jerusalem during the War of Independence and, among Israelis, the memory of IPO Laureate Conductor Leonard Bernstein conducting the Orchestra before 5,000 soldiers on the Negev dunes after the battle for Beersheba, is an historic moment.  Through it all, the Orchestra has enjoyed associations with such renowned artists as Emanuel Ax, Daniel Barenboim, Yefim Bronfman, Principal Guest Conductor Yoel Levi, Yo-Yo Ma, Lorin Maazel, Honorary Guest Conductor Kurt Masur, Itzhak Perlman, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Arthur Rubinstein, Gil Shaham, Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zukerman. Their time and talent have enriched the cultural life of Israel and have helped the Orchestra to maintain its high artistic standards.

In December 2006, world renowned artists came to Israel to help celebrate the IPO’s 70th Anniversary. The remarkable two week festival of music and events marked the historic beginning of the Orchestra. The IPO was conducted by Music Director Zubin Mehta and guest conductors Daniel Barenboim, Valery Gergiev, and Kurt Masur, with guest artists Yefim Bronfman, Evgeny Kissin, Radu Lupu, Mischa Maisky, Julian Rachlin, Gil Shaham, Maxim Vengerov and Pinchas Zukerman.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra is Israel’s premier cultural ambassador and travels extensively throughout the world, particularly to countries where there is little or no Israeli representation.  The good-will created by these tours, which have included historic visits to Japan, Argentina, Poland, Hungary, Russia, China, and India is of enormous value to the State of Israel.  In 2005 the Orchestra traveled to Berlin, Germany to commemorate 40 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and Germany; to London, Paris and Geneva on a tour co-sponsored by the Weizmann and Pasteur Institutes and to South America where the Orchestra visited eight cities in 20 days.  In 2007 the IPO performed five concerts in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles in the United States, seven concerts in six cities in Japan and 23 concerts during their summer European Festival Tour. In February 2008, The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Tribute to Leonard Bernstein toured five U.S. cities with Jamie Bernstein, the composer’s daughter, under the baton of Michael Barrett. In November 2008, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra completed an eight concert, seven city U.S. tour continuing the celebration of Israel’s 60th Anniversary and the tribute to Leonard Bernstein with the dynamic young conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

The IPO returned to the United States in December 2009 with conductor and soloist Pinchas Zukerman for concerts featuring Canadian cellist Amanda Forsyth at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in New York City, the Arsht Center in Miami and the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach.

Currently the Orchestra gives more than 100 performances each year in Israel for their 26,000 subscribers, where 12 different concert series are presented in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa.  The IPO KeyNote Education and Outreach Program brings classical music to the audience of the future through music education and community involvement, filling the void in the music instruction of the youth of Israel.  The Family Concert Series educates and exposes children, young teens and their families to fascinating and diverse forms of classical music at affordable prices and the IPO in Jeans Concert Series is designed to attract young professional adults between the ages of 21-45 who would otherwise not be exposed to the IPO’s musical and cultural activities.  All  these programs and many more are an integral part of the fabric of Israel.

The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra has played a prominent role in many celebrations and important historic milestones for the State of Israel and remains an eloquent voice for peace in Israel and around the world.

Last updated July 2010. Contact Opus 3 Artists for the most up-to-date version.