In the 75 years of its existence, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has established itself as one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras.
Over the decades, the orchestra has worked closely with the conductors Carlo Zecchi (principal conductor 1966 – 1976), Philippe Entremont (principal conductor 1976 – 1991), later with Yehudi Menuhin, Sándor Végh, Heinrich Schiff (principal conductor 2005 – 2008) and Stefan Vladar (principal conductor 2008 – 2018). In 1946, Benjamin Britten conducted the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in the 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.
Joji Hattori has been Principal Guest Conductor since 2018. His collaboration with the orchestra began in 2004.
In Vienna, the orchestra performs numerous concerts in addition to its own series (Matinees and Prime Time), including at the Vienna Musikverein. In the Theater an der Wien and the Vienna Chamber Opera, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has been a partner of both opera houses since the 2012/13 season as an opera orchestra.
Due to the crisis, tours to Italy, Greece, Ireland, Bulgaria, Poland, Portugal, China, Russia, Germany and Japan had to be postponed to a later date. Since the reopening of culture in Europe, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has already been back in Spain and Hungary, has opened the Festwochen Gmunden (Austria) and played numerous concerts in Vienna, including at the Vienna Chamber Opera and the Vienna Konzerthaus. In addition to the permanent concerts in Austria, this year’s participation in the George Enescu Festival in Bucharest and other engagements in Europe are on the calendar of the busy orchestra.
