Bucharest Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 2007, the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra is one of Romania’s leading musical ensembles. Its founders are three young musicians determined to set a standard of excellence in Romanian music, bringing together the country’s most talented instrumentalists. In 2023, the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and the principal conductor, John Axelrod, have been nominated to ICMA among other elite orchestras around the world, for Schumann 41/51 recording released by Orchid Classics.

During the annual season “Salut CULTURA!”, the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra has succeeded in developing and presenting innovative musical concepts, offering the audience the opportunity to enjoy music of the highest quality. Through an impressive series of concerts and events, organised in traditional, open-air and unconventional venues, the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra has earned the reputation and appreciation of music lovers.

Exploring a diverse repertoire ranging from classical to film, pop/rock and crossover, the orchestra promotes excellence in music and attracts a diverse audience to its concert halls. Through prestigious international collaborations and participation in high-profile events, the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra has been designated Romania’s Official Cultural Ambassador, the first orchestra in the country to be invited to perform in famous venues in South America and Asia in a series of memorable performances that have impressed audiences in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, China and Vietnam.

Starting in 2022, the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra strengthens its prestige with the appointment of John Axelrod as Principal Conductor. Under his direction, the orchestra continues to provide audiences with outstanding musical experiences.

Bucharest Symphony Orchestra worked with world renowned artists and (co) produced a large series of crossover concerts, Cine Concerts, ensemble agreed by Disney Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., 20th Century Fox, LucasFilm and Warner Chappell Music for Star Wars, Frozen, Harry Potter and Disney in Concert series.

Since 2018, Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and its educational department, Bucharest Conducting Academy, formerly Bucharest Music Institute (BMI), produces the International Conducting Competition in Bucharest and the first edition awarded seven prizes.

Press quotes

“It was a memorable evening […] And it was also a concert with such an expressive and flawless technique which I have missed in Bucharest for a long, long time, but which shows which kind of great talents still slumber in Romania and how easily they can be awoken in international collaboration. It was an evening that touched emotionally very deep all who had experienced that great concert.” Dieter Stanzeleit/Royal TV
“Meeting an orchestra that’s so good and young such as the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, represents a great joy. It is a professional, high quality orchestra that pleases everyone’s ear with their music, be it royal or peasant one. „L’apprenti Sorcier” Radu Gheorghe, actor/ Alba Iulia
„[…] Tarja Turunen, Mike Terrana and the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra performed three songs: Led Zeppelin (‘Kashmir’, ‘Immigrant Song’, ‘Stairway to Heaven’) in a exceptional symphonic version, where the orchestra succeeded to find the inner core of each song.Tarja Turunen „Beauty & the Beast World Tour” concert tour Alex Revenco / Jurnalul National
„El espíritu preciso de la Sinfónica de Bucarest” – La Capital/Rosario, Argentina
„Un impecable cierre rumano” – Ambito Financiero/Buenos Aires, Argentina
„El mejor broche para una temporada – Orquesta y solista brillaron y conmovieron a un público impactado” – El Pais, Montevideo, Uruguay