The Vienna Chamber Orchestra

For decades, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra has been shaped by collaborations with distinguished conductors. Among them were Carlo Zecchi (Principal Conductor from 1966 to 1976), Philippe Entremont (1976 to 1991), Yehudi Menuhin, Sándor Végh, Heinrich Schiff (Principal Conductor from 2005 to 2008), and Stefan Vladar (Principal Conductor from 2008 to 2018). Joji Hattori began working with the orchestra in 2004 and took up the role of First Guest Conductor in 2018. Jan Willem de Vriend is set to lead the orchestra as the Principal Conductor starting from the 2023/24 season. His expertise promises to continue the orchestra’s strong musical tradition, pointing towards fruitful future collaborations. Looking back, notable moments include Benjamin Britten conducting the orchestra in 1946 for his Serenade op. 31. Daniel Barenboim debuted with the orchestra at age 9 in 1952, and Alfred Brendel performed with them in 1964. In Vienna, the orchestra plays numerous concerts, including their own series like Matinees and “Prime Time International”. Since the 2012/13 season, they have been partners with the Theater an der Wien and the Vienna Chamber Opera. Under the guidance of the new Principal Conductor, the orchestra is planning various projects, both in Austria and internationally. The upcoming season features nine cycle concerts led by de Vriend. The “Prime Time” series has added an international dimension, now called “Prime Time International”. The orchestra introduces not only award-winning international soloists but also emerging guest conductors. Aparet from Joji Hattori, who continues his moderation role, Serge Falck will guide through the concerts led by other conductors in the series.