The Badische Staatskapelle Karlsruhe, one of the oldest orchestras not only in Germany but also in the entire world, can look back on a rich tradition. The ensemble was established in 1662 as the court orchestra in the margrave residence at Durlach in Baden and developed from these beginnings to become an ensemble with a substantial national and international reputation. Renowned court musical directors of the orchestra such as Franz Danzi, Hermann Levi and Felix Mottl conducted numerous premieres and first performances including works by Hector Berlioz, Johannes Brahms and Béla Bartók. Brahms, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss personally conducted the ensemble on several occasions.

Hermann Levi inaugurated regular subscription concerts in the 1860s, when the ensemble was still known as the court orchestra, and this tradition is still continued today by the Badische Staatskapelle in their symphony concert series.

British conductor Justin Brown enjoys an international reputation in both the symphonic and operatic fields. He is the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, as well as the General Music Director of the Badisches Staatstheater, Karlsruhe. In Karlsruhe he has been particularly celebrated for his conducting of 'Der Ring des Nibelungen', as well as the late operas of Verdi and Strauss.

Justin Brown has worked with many of the world’s top orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony, City of Birmingham Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Finnish Radio Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic and Dresden Philharmonic. Since beginning his opera career at the English National Opera and Scottish Opera, Justin Brown has conducted at Covent Garden, La Monnaie, Staatsoper Stuttgart, Oper Frankfurt, Opéra de Nantes, Opéra de Strasbourg, Teatro San Carlo/Lisbon, the Norwegian Opera and Bavarian State Opera in Munich.