Over its long history, the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra, the symphony orchestra of the Town and the Province of Salzburg, has developed into an international ambassador for Mozart’s home-town. The ensemble, which specialises in independent, contemporary interpretation of the works of Mozart, dates back to the Cathedral Music Society and Mozarteum, founded in 1841 with the support of Mozart’s widow Constanze and their two sons. The Orchestra was given its present name in 1908. Ivor Bolton has been principal conductor since 2004.
As organiser of two concert series, the Mozarteum Orchestra is a pillar of Salzburg’s busy musical life. The Sunday Matinees held in the famous Large Festival Hall offer performances of major, large-scale works from the symphonic repertoire. The programmes of the Thursday Concerts in the festive ambience of the Mozarteum Foundation are arranged thematically, and balance well-known orchestral music with less familiar works, focusing on the Vienna Classical school.
The Orchestra collaborates closely with the Salzburg Festival, contributing not only the central Mozart Matinees but also performing in major opera productions, as well as performing at the annual Mozart Week and in the concert programme of the Kulturvereinigung. Stylistic versatility and flexibility mark the ensemble’s participation in the season’s productions of the Salzburg Landestheater, with a repertoire ranging from grand opera through operetta and ballet to musical.
Recent concert tours have taken the 91-strong Orchestra to Argentina, China, Japan, Germany, Italy and Spain. Internationally distinguished conductors including Giovanni Antonini, Robin Ticciati, Marc Minkowski, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Dmitrij Kitajenko and Mark Elder speak highly of their work with such a dynamic ensemble receptive to new ideas. Since 2011, principal guest conductor Trevor Pinnock has intensified his connection with the Mozarteum Orchestra.
The Orchestra’s wide range of performances is documented by many recordings on CD.
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The official main sponsors of the Mozarteum Orchestra are Leica & Audi.
