The oldest of the Hungarian orchestras, the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra gave the first performances in Hungary of a number of Bartók’s compositions, including the first performances of the complete orchestral suites, the suites from The Wooden Prince and The Miraculous Mandarin and a number of other works, many under the direction of Ernő Dohnányi, who was appointed chief conductor in 1919 and held the position for the next 25 years. The orchestra, associated like the famous Vienna orchestras with the State Opera in Budapest, holds an honoured and leading position in the musical life of the capital and the country.