The Vienna Philharmonic is celebrating a birthday! For the 175th anniversary of this world-class orchestra, Christoph Wagner-Trenkwitz charmingly and knowledgeably recounts the origins, significance, and uniqueness of this exceptional ensemble: how the orchestra has been embedded in cultural and political history from the very beginning and how great personalities and collective shifts in consciousness have propelled its musical development. The Vienna Philharmonic has always been both a guardian of tradition and a bearer of new ideas. The sound of this orchestra cannot be confined between two covers; however, historical facts presented in a relaxed manner, classic and lesser-known anecdotes, as well as glimpses behind the scenes of rehearsals, opera, and concert operations, foster a deeper understanding and an even greater affection for this quintessentially Viennese institution.