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Founded in Berlin, Germany in 1882, the Berliner Philharmoniker (in English, the Berlin Philharmonic) went on to become one of Europe's best known orchestras, surviving the stress of the Nazi regimes, two World Wars, and German re-unification. Originally known as the Frühere Bilsesche Kapelle, the 54 founders came together after hearing that they would have to take a fourth-class seating arrangement on a train trip to Warsaw with their former group, which was led by Benjamin Bilse. Reorganized and renamed in 1887, the Berliner acquired the conductor skills of Hans von Bülow, and worked to build themselves a solid reputation. In these early days, the Berliner worked with such guests as Hans Richter and Richard Strauss. There were some stressful moments, as a series of conductors came and went, but the orchestra weathered all comers until the stresses of Nazification and World War II threatened to tear the group apart. Some controversy arose as to the nature of the orchestra's ties to Hi...