Berlin Philharmonic Choir
The Berlin Philharmonic Choir is a non-profit oratorio choir founded in Berlin in 1882, performing nearly 90 choral-symphonic works with volunteer singers at the Berliner Philharmonie and Berliner Dom. It serves classical music audiences in Berlin and is funded by the Berlin Senate, ticket sales, and a support association.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1882
- HeadquartersBerlin, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Berlin Philharmonic Choir does
The Berlin Philharmonic Choir (Philharmonischer Chor Berlin e.V.) is a semiprofessional oratorio choir founded in Berlin in 1882, making it one of Germany's oldest and most prestigious choral institutions. It performs choral-symphonic works spanning Baroque to 21st-century repertoire — nearly 90 works from over 50 composers, including world premieres and rediscovered pieces — primarily at the Berliner Philharmonie and Berliner Dom, with a recurring season subscription series (Abonnement) and additional single-ticket concerts. The ensemble is composed of volunteer singers who rehearse several times per week and collaborates with multiple orchestras including the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester Frankfurt, Staatskapelle Halle, and the Batzdorfer Hofkapelle for historically informed performances.
The choir operates as a private registered association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) under German law, with no parent company, external shareholders, or venture/PE involvement. Its revenue is derived from three primary streams: institutional public funding from the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur des Landes Berlin (Berlin Senate for Culture); ticket sales from subscriptions (€45–125) and individual concerts (€15–45); and supplementary contributions from sponsors and the Förderverein (support association). It conducts international concert tours periodically (Vietnam 2010, China 2013, Sweden 2014 and 2023) and runs youth development programs — TALENTE CAMPUS for emerging singers and 'Schüler finden Klassik' for school outreach — alongside the Dirigentenforum Chor at the Deutscher Musikrat for conducting talent.
The organization has had only eight artistic directors in its 140+ year history. In July 2025, Florian Benfer succeeded Jörg-Peter Weigle (artistic director 2003–2025) as the new artistic director, a transition announced in 2022. Marketing and audience engagement operate through the choir's website, email newsletters, Facebook and Instagram channels, the 'Südfoyer' podcast (distributed on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts), and earned media coverage in outlets such as Tagesspiegel, rbbKultur, and Deutschlandfunk Kultur. There is no proprietary technology stack or digital product platform; the core deliverable remains live choral-symphonic performance.
Berlin Philharmonic Choir firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Berlin Philharmonic Choir
- Legal name
- Philharmonischer Chor Berlin e.V.
- Website
- https://philharmonischer-chor.berlin
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1882
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Berlin Philharmonic Choir is a non-profit oratorio choir founded in Berlin in 1882, performing nearly 90 choral-symphonic works with volunteer singers at the Berliner Philharmonie and Berliner Dom. It serves classical music audiences in Berlin and is funded by the Berlin Senate, ticket sales, and a support association.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Berlin Philharmonic Choir is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berlin
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Berlin Philharmonic Choir business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Institutional public funding: The choir's operations are primarily enabled by institutional funding from the Berliner Senat (Senate of Berlin) for culture, supplemented by sponsors and a support association (Förderverein).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Season subscription (Abonnement) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Single concert tickets |
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Berlin Philharmonic Choir product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Philharmonischer Chor Berlin is a semi-professional oratorio choir that prepares and performs choral-symphonic concerts — including oratorios, masses, passions, requiems, and contemporary works — at the Berliner Philharmonie and Berliner Dom. It sells a season subscription (Abonnement) priced €45–125 and individual concert tickets priced €15–45, supplemented by international concert tours and youth talent programs (TALENTE CAMPUS, Schüler finden Klassik).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Season Subscription (Abonnement) Annual subscription pass for the choir's season of choral-symphonic concerts at the Berliner Philharmonie, providing bundled access to subscription series performances. Pricing ranges from €45 to €125 per season depending on category. Targeted at classical music enthusiasts and regular concert-goers in Berlin.
- Single Concert Tickets Pay-as-you-go tickets for individual choral-symphonic concerts at the Berliner Philharmonie and Berliner Dom, priced €15 to €45 per ticket. Sold via phone, email ([email protected]), and the choir's website. Designed for casual concert attendees and those not committing to a full season subscription.
Companies that use Berlin Philharmonic Choir
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Berlin Philharmonic Choir technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Berlin Philharmonic Choir partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Dirigentenforum Chor, Deutscher MusikratcoreJörg-Peter Weigle, former artistic director, co-founded the Dirigentenforum Chor at the German Music Council in 2008. The choir participates as a platform for conducting talent to practice under professional guidance.
- Konzerthausorchester BerlincoreLong-standing collaborative orchestra partner of the Philharmonischer Chor Berlin, performing together in concerts at the Berliner Philharmonie and other venues.
- Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester FrankfurtcoreRegular orchestral partner for concerts, including performances of Mendelssohn's Elias, Dvořák's Stabat Mater, and Rossini's Stabat Mater.
- Staatskapelle HalleminorLong-standing orchestral partner of the choir.
- Batzdorfer HofkapellecoreBaroque ensemble that collaborates with the choir for historically informed performances, including Bach's Johannes-Passion.
- Förderverein des Philharmonischen Chores BerlincoreThe support association of the choir, providing additional funding and support for projects beyond institutional funding. Members and donors help sustain the 140+ year tradition.
- Berliner PhilharmoniecoreThe primary concert venue of the Philharmonischer Chor Berlin, hosting the subscription concert series in the Großer Saal.
- rbbKultur / Deutschlandfunk KulturminorRadio partners broadcasting concert recordings and providing media coverage of the choir's performances.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Berlin Philharmonic Choir competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- NDR Chor Hamburg: Hamburg-based professional radio choir performing with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester. Comparable in mission, funding model (public broadcaster), and orchestral collaboration pattern.
- Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks: Munich-based professional radio choir performing choral-symphonic repertoire with the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. Comparable as a German public-broadcaster-affiliated choir in the same competitive concert market.
- SWR Vokalensemble: Stuttgart-based professional vocal ensemble of the Südwestrundfunk, performing contemporary and classical choral works. Comparable as a German radio-affiliated choir with similar repertoire scope.
Direct peers
- Wiener Singverein: Vienna's premier concert choir associated with the Wiener Philharmoniker. Closest analogue to a prestige German-speaking oratorio choir with a similar century-plus tradition and orchestral partnership model.
- RIAS Kammerchor Berlin: Berlin-based professional chamber choir renowned for a cappella and choral-symphonic performance. Comparable as a Berlin-based choir competing for the same concert venues and donor pool.
- Rundfunkchor Berlin: Berlin-based professional choir of the Berlin radio broadcasters, performing choral-symphonic works with major Berlin orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker. Direct peer operating in the same city and competitive concert-calendar space as the Philharmonischer Chor Berlin.
- MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig: Leipzig-based professional radio choir performing choral-symphonic repertoire with the MDR Sinfonieorchester and Gewandhausorchester. Comparable in mission and orchestral collaboration model to the Philharmonischer Chor Berlin.
- Berliner Singakademie: Historic Berlin choral society dating to 1791, performing classical oratorio and a cappella repertoire. Comparable as a long-established Berlin-based choral institution with overlapping audience and repertoire.
- Bach-Collegium Stuttgart: Stuttgart-based ensemble performing Bach choral works and other choral-symphonic repertoire. Comparable as a German choral organization focused on oratorio and Baroque–Classical repertoire.
Regional players
- Collegium Vocale Leipzig: Leipzig-based vocal ensemble performing Baroque and Romantic choral works, often with historically informed performance practice. Comparable in repertoire focus and ensemble size, though based in eastern Germany rather than Berlin.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Berlin Philharmonic Choir social profiles
Digital presenceBerlin Philharmonic Choir financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Berlin Philharmonic Choir leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Berlin Philharmonic Choir funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Berlin Philharmonic Choir M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Berlin Philharmonic Choir
What does Berlin Philharmonic Choir do?
The Philharmonischer Chor Berlin is a semi-professional oratorio choir that prepares and performs choral-symphonic concerts — including oratorios, masses, passions, requiems, and contemporary works — at the Berliner Philharmonie and Berliner Dom. It sells a season subscription (Abonnement) priced €45–125 and individual concert tickets priced €15–45, supplemented by international concert tours and youth talent programs (TALENTE CAMPUS, Schüler finden Klassik).
Is Berlin Philharmonic Choir a public or private company?
Berlin Philharmonic Choir is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Berlin Philharmonic Choir founded?
Berlin Philharmonic Choir was founded in 1882. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Berlin Philharmonic Choir based?
Berlin Philharmonic Choir is headquartered in Berlin, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Berlin Philharmonic Choir make money?
One revenue line is on record: institutional public funding.
Who are Berlin Philharmonic Choir's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are NDR Chor Hamburg, Chor des Bayerischen Rundfunks and SWR Vokalensemble. Direct peers are Wiener Singverein, RIAS Kammerchor Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, MDR Rundfunkchor Leipzig, Berliner Singakademie and Bach-Collegium Stuttgart. Collegium Vocale Leipzig is listed as a regional player.
Does Berlin Philharmonic Choir have an API?
No public API is recorded for Berlin Philharmonic Choir.