Sinfonieorchester Basel and Stadtcasino Basel 1826-2026

The Sinfonieorchester Basel and the Stadtcasino Basel celebrate their centuries-old cooperation and foundation in 2026, generations before Paul Sacher (1887-1964) founded the  Chamber Orchestra (Kammerorchester) in 1926 (another milestone in Musikstadt Basel in 2026!).

The Sinfonieorchester Basel 1876-2026

The Sinfonieorchester Basel we know today is the culmination of a tradition that began more than three hundred years ago. It is a history full of ups and downs. The name of the ensemble has changed frequently, but the ensemble itself, apart from the brief period during the Helvetic Republic(1798-1803), has never disappeared from the scene.

In 1692, citizens of Basel founded a Collegium Musicum to promote vocal music. The Collegium consisted of amateur musicians and professional musicians. The former Augustinian monastery was known as the Upper Collegium, where the concerts were held until 1826.  Since then, the Basel Orchestra’s concerts have been held at the Stadtcasino.

After the concert on 9 June 2026, Symphony Nr. 3 d-Moll by Gustav Mahler (1860–1911), Markus Poschner (conductor), Knabenkantorei Basel, Basler Gesangverein and Jasmin Jorias (Alt). Mahler had conducted the orchestra on various occasions himself.

On 4 October 1876, the new concert hall in the Stadtcasino was inaugurated. It is still is the main performance site of the orchestra. Closely linked to the new hall was another milestone in the orchestra’s history, the new name Basler Sinfonie-Orchester.

In 1997, the Basler Sinfonie-Orchester merged with the Radio Sinfonieorchester Basel. It was then that the ensemble was given its current name, the Sinfonieorchester Basel. Around 100 professional musicians perform in Switzerland and abroad and work closely with Theatre Basel. Their jubilee season features a multifaceted and exceptional concert programme available on their website.

(Source and further information: Sinfonieorchester Basel)

The Stadtcasino Basel 1826-2026

The Stadtcasino opened in 1826, two years after the Stadtcasino-Gesellschaft was founded in 1824. The architect was Melchior Berri (1801-1854). He was a great admirer of the Renaissance and also designed the Natural History Museum on the Augustinergasse. It stands on the site of the former Augustiner Monastery, where the Collegium Musicum held its concerts until 1826. The first major extension came in 1876 with the construction of the Concert Hall, followed by the Hans Huber Hall in 1904/1905. Both projects were designed by Johan Jakob Stehlin the Younger (1826-1894).

The Stadtcasino was demolished in 1938. The main building that stands today was redesigned by the architectural team Willi Kehlstadt, Brodtbeck and Bohny, Bräuning, Leu, and Dür, and was inaugurated in 1939.

The Stadtcasino Basel underwent various phases of renovation and other interventions, including the installation of a new organ in 1971. The reopening of the newly extended Stadtcasino Basel was celebrated in 2020. The Stadtcasino celebrates its bicentennial on 12-14 June 2026.

(Source and further information: Stadtcasino Basel)