Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz

The German State Philharmonic of Rhineland-Palatinate was founded in 1919 and is based in Ludwigshafen. From 1967 to 1974 the name of the orchestra was Das Philharmonische Orchester Der Pfalz. When the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate took over the sponsorship of the orchestra the name was changed into Pfälzische Philharmonie before it was renamed again in 1979 into Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz and in 2007 into Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz. Chief conductor since 2019 is Michael Francis (3). Former chief conductors include Christoph Stepp, Christoph Eschenbach, Leif Segerstam, Bernhard Klee, Bernhard Klee, Ari Rasilainen and Karl-Heinz Steffens.