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Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn

The “Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn” belongs to the most sought after chamber orchestras in the world. After its foundation in 1960 by Professor Jörg Faerber, the orchestra has established its reputation as an extraordinary ensemble.

The orchestra does not only impress by a varied repertoire but moreover, thrilles the audience with a performance full of virtuosity combined with a deep sense of musicality and emotionality. Hence, critics praised the “Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn” for its “sophisticated and excellent sound”(Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung) and its “breath-taking brilliance” (Die Welt) which enraptures the audience with a “playing so unified, purposeful and passionate” (Washington Post). In 2003 Ruben Gazarian took over as the artistic director and chief conductor of the orchestra.

Each year, in addition to the subscription concerts at Heilbronn, the “Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn” gives guest performances at home and abroad (Europe, Japan, USA), particularly at music festivals: Salzburg Festival, Vienna Music Summer, Carinthian Summer, Lucerne International Music Festival, Flanders Festival, Schleswig-Holstein Festival,Ludwigsburg Castle Festival, Rhinegau Festival, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, Swansea Festival, Hiroshima Festival, and others. Last season the orchestra had a successful debut at the Lisbon Festival “Dias da Music”.

During four decades, the “Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn” has not only worked together with many well-known artists, but has also promoted young junior talents at all times. Among the soloists having most frequently performed with the ensemble are: Martha Argerich, Maurice André, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Alfred Brendel, Rudolf Buchbinder, JuliaFischer, Justus Frantz, James Galway, Hilary Hahn, Heinz Holliger, Sharon Kam, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Sabine Meyer, Wolfgang Meyer, Daniel Müller-Schott, Viktoria Mullova, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Sergei Nakariakov, Christiane Oelze, Michala Petri, ThomasQuasthoff, Frank Peter and Tabea Zimmermann.

Of the numerous recordings - the discography of the “Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn” presently comprises more than 500 works – many were awarded with international prizes: for example the CD published by DGG with Martha Argerich and Guy Touvron was awarded the star of the month by the magazine “Fono-Forum“ in March 1995. The recording of Clarinet concerts with Sharon Kam as well as the recording of concert and opera arias by W.A. Mozart together with Thomas Quasthoff were on the “hit list” of German broadcasting stations for weeks. Equally successful and internationally well reputated were the recordings of the virtuoso concert arrangements with Sergej Nakariakov and of the piano concerts by W.A. Mozart with Martha Argerich and Alexander Rabinovitch. The latest CD release withworks of Joseph and Michael Haydn gained the highest Polish Music Award “Music of the Year 2006”. Concert recordings by many German and foreign broadcasting stations bear witness of the orchestra’s quality.