The Vienna Chamber Orchestra

Founded in 1946, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra is one of the world's leading large chamber ensembles.

Grounded in the works of Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, and Beethoven, the orchestra has been shaped by decades of intense collaboration with master musicians, including conductors Carlo Zecchi (Principal Conductor 1966 - 1976), Philippe Entremont (Principal Conductor 1976 - 1991), Yehudi Menuhin, Sándor Végh, Heinrich Schiff (Principal Conductor 2005 - 2008) and Stefan Vladar (Principal Conductor 2008 - 2018). The cooperation with Joji Hattori started in 2004. Since 2018, he has been the Principal Guest Conductor of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra.

Beginning in 2023/24, Jan Willem de Vriend will become the orchestra's Principal Conductor.

From the orchestra's history: in 1946, Benjamin Britten conducted the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in a performance of his Serenade, op. 31. In 1952, at the age of 9, Daniel Barenboim made his debut with the orchestra, and in 1964 Alfred Brendel performed with the orchestra. These are just a few of the orchestra's many milestones.

The orchestra performs numerous concerts each year in venues throughout the world. The orchestra presents its own concerts in cycles at the Wiener Konzerthaus (Matinées and Prime Time International). Last season, the orchestra was invited to open the Festwochen Gmunden. The orchestra is also a long-standing partner of the Theater an der Wien and the Wiener Kammeroper - performing as a guest ensemble for stage productions at both houses since the 2012/13 season.

With the end of pandemic-related restrictions in Europe, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has resumed its busy international touring schedule - already hitting the road for tours to Japan, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany, Romania and Belgium.

In 2023/24, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra will highlight its new principal conductor, Jan Willem de Vriend. In his opening season, the orchestra will play nine cycle concerts in Vienna under his baton.

The Prime Time cycle has been expanded to include an international component, which is also reflected in the new title of the series: Prime Time International. These concerts will continue to feature Joji Hattori and award-winning international soloists. Up-and-coming conductors will now also be featured as guests at the podium. The actor and chansonnier Serge Falck has been enlisted for the moderation.

Translation by Anthony Gilbert