A note about searching for Orchestras

On the JustClassical website, we have tried to make it as easy as possible to browse the database. Clicking on the name of any composer, artist or ensemble will lead you to a list of other recordings by that person or group. Orchestras presented us with a slight problem to the extent that orchestras tend to have different names in different countries. A recording on Decca might list the "Vienna Philharmonic" whereas Deutsche Grammophon would list the "Wiener Philharmoniker".

Some of these differences are obvious, but others are more subtle, and these are complicated by the fact that sometimes orchestras with very similar names are actually separate entities (even if only to evade contractual obligations with record labels). The Soviet Union presents its own problems with a bewildering selection of orchestras ranging from the "USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra" the "USSR State Symphony Orchestra" the "USSR TV and Radio Symphony Orchestra" and my personal favourite, the "USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra".

When entering recordings into our database, we have tried to keep variations to a minimum in cases where it is clearly the same orchestra, even if this means an orchestra is not listed precisely as it appears on the recording. Despite our best efforts, however, it is inevitable that some orchestras will be duplicated in our database. When searching for an orchestra, it is worth typing a single keyword into the searchbox ("Berlin" for example, or "Radio") and you will be shown all orchestras containing that word.

Browse by Orchestra on JustClassical