Often two concepts are confused in classical music and many times the symphony orchestra and the philharmonic orchestra almost coexist at the same level. The truth is that, although they seem the same, they are not, and they have some differences that we should know.
In classical music, for centuries, the two groups of performers that we have always known are these. But, what differentiates them? In both cases, we find that they have in common that it is a group of musicians and their instruments who interpret musical pieces following the instructions of a director and who are shown on stage in a specific way.
Speaking of both ensembles, their composition varies from between 80 to less than 100 members and they are used to interpreting all kinds of classical works from symphonies to operas, using all the families of instruments that we know: string, wind, percussion, metal. and woodwind.
Each of these bands adapt their repertoire and change with respect to the work that is performed.
So where is the difference between symphony orchestra and philharmonic orchestra?
Seeing all these common characteristics the question is even more recurrent: where is the difference? It must be said that many of the music professionals do not see any differences between the two concepts of band and they are even recognized almost as synonyms.
The truth is that all philharmonics are also symphony orchestras, but not all symphony orchestras are philharmonics. Philharmonics are generally made up of members of music associations who are lovers of classical music, but are not, so to speak, professional musicians.
The very word philharmonic is derived from the Greek and its meaning is “music lover.” It is therefore about people who dedicate their time and money to play in a philharmonic but who are music lovers and not professionals of the genre.
Despite this, most musicians from symphony orchestras consider those from philharmonic orchestras very professional, although a priori they should not have the same knowledge of music.
It was in Europe around the seventeenth century when these first associations of non-professional musicians began to be created, given the enormous cultural wealth of the time. In 1701 the considered first philharmonic orchestra, the Academia Philharmonicorum, was founded and appeared in Austria.
Later it was followed by other important ones such as the London Philharmonic Society, which was the first to coin the term in English to designate these associations of non-professional musicians.
