The Vienna Chamber Orchestra

Founded in 1946, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra can now look back on a rich musical heritage marked by numerous significant milestones. These include the conducting of Benjamin Britten in 1946, the debut of a 9-year-old Daniel Barenboim in 1952, and a performance by Alfred Brendel in 1964. This legacy has been further shaped by collaborations with distinguished conductors such as Carlo Zecchi, Philippe Entremont, Yehudi Menuhin, Sándor Végh, Heinrich Schiff, and Stefan Vladar. The full list of internationally renowned soloists would be too extensive to mention.

Since its inception, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has hosted a matinée cycle in the Mozart Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus. For decades, the orchestra has also been deeply committed to fostering young talent, presenting emerging artists at the start of their careers in the Prime Time International series in the Schubert Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus. Additionally, the orchestra is a regular guest in the "Symphonie Classique" cycle in the Great Hall of the Vienna Konzerthaus.

Moreover, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra regularly performs at the Vienna Musikverein. Since 2012, it has been a dedicated partner of the Theater an der Wien and the Vienna Chamber Opera. Starting in 2024, the orchestra is a permanent partner of the Wiener Opernsommer Belvedere festival. It is also committed to a five-year partnership with the Liszt Festival Raiding. As part of the Strauss Year celebrations, the orchestra will perform in numerous additional concerts in Vienna as an official partner of the Johann Strauss 2025 organization.

The orchestra's international standing is demonstrated through its extensive touring activities. In just the past two years, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has been invited to perform in Japan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Argentina. In November 2024, the ensemble will perform in Vietnam.

Rooted in historically informed performance practice, the orchestra, under its chief conductor Jan Willem de Vriend, delves deeply into stylistic nuances. This approach allows the orchestra to explore the composers' intentions as authentically as possible, ensuring each performance is firmly anchored in the present moment while staying true to the original vision.