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Orchestra
Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg
Über 100 Jahre Filmmusikgeschichte - das älteste Filmorchester Deutschlands mit Weltklasse-Reputation
Foto: Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg
History
The roots of the German Film Orchestra Babelsberg date back to 1918, when Universum Film AG (UFA) founded the UFA Symphony Orchestra in Babelsberg—Germany’s first film orchestra.
Silent films such as Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” (1926), “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” (1920), and “Berlin: Symphony of a Great City” (1927) were among the major projects of the early years.
Founded
1918 by Universum Film AG (UFA)
Productions
Over 400 soundtracks since 1993, 80+ CD productions
Concert work
Over 1,000 concerts and TV appearances
Meilensteine
The UFA Era
Founded as Germany's first film orchestra. Worked on legendary silent films and later on sound film milestones such as “The Blue Angel” (1930).
Collaborated with stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Zarah Leander, and Hans Albers. Produced numerous hits of the 1930s and 1940s.
The DEFA era
The work continued as the DEFA Symphony Orchestra, providing music for almost all studio productions between 1952 and 1989.
Collaboration: Classics such as 'Die Legende von Paul und Paula' (1973) and the entire TV series 'Polizeiruf 110'. Over 500 film scores by Karl-Ernst Sasse.
The modern era – DFOB
Re-established as the Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg, returning to its Babelsberg roots in 2007.
Collaboration: Today it is part of the Babelsberg media hub, with two areas of activity: studio productions and extensive concert work spanning classical to crossover.
Legendäre Filmproduktionen
The Blue Angel
Marlene Dietrich's breakthrough
The Three from the Filling Station
A musical box-office hit
The Murderers Are Among Us
The first German post-war film
The Legend of Paul and Paula
DEFA cult film
Polizeiruf 110
Complete series score
Metropolis
Silent-film milestone
Today: versatility at the highest level
The German Film Orchestra Babelsberg is a full-fledged symphony orchestra with two successful areas of activity: on the one hand, the production of film and TV music as well as music media; on the other hand, an extensive concert program.
Its repertoire ranges from live film concerts and film music programs to classical concerts and crossover projects. Collaborations with artists such as Alphaville, Cari Cari, Joyce Muniz, and A.R. Rahman demonstrate the orchestra’s extraordinary versatility.