The is a German

broadcast orchestra A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. In ...

of the ' (WDR, West German Broadcasting) in Cologne. The orchestra gives its concerts in such venues as the

Kölner Philharmonie The Kölner Philharmonie is a symphonic concert hall located in Cologne, Germany. It is part of the building assemble of the Museum Ludwig and was opened in 1986. The Kölner Philharmonie is located close to the Cologne Cathedral and the Colo ...

and in the Funkhaus Wallrafplatz.

History

Groups from which the orchestra was formed date back to 1927. In its present form, the orchestra was founded in 1947, with Hermann Hagestedt as its first chief conductor. The orchestra has been known previously as the ''Kölner Rundfunkorchester''. The orchestra's repertoire includes a full range of popular music, musicals, opera and operetta, film and classical music, including lesser-known oratorio and "easy listening" music. For several years, the orchestra has worked with younger conductors such as Titus Engel and Rasmus Baumann. The orchestra's most recent chief conductor was Wayne Marshall, who held the post from 2014 through 2020. The orchestra's current principal guest conductor is Enrico Delamboye. In November 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Frank Strobel as its next chief conductor, effective in the autumn of 2021.

Chief conductors

* Hermann Hagestedt (1947–1968) *

Franz Marszalek Franz Marszalek (born 2 August 1900 in Breslau, Schlesien, Germany (now Wrocław, Silesia, Poland); died 28 October 1975 in Cologne, Germany) was a German conductor and composer, who was a leading figure in operetta. He began his studies in Wr ...

(1949–1965) * Curt Cremer (1968–1989) * Heinz Geese (1968–1995) * Helmuth Froschauer (1997–2006) *

Michail Jurowski Michail Vladimirovich Jurowski (; 25 December 1945 – 19 March 2022) was a Russian conductor who worked internationally, based in Germany for most of his career. He was particularly interested in the works of Dmitri Shostakovich, in concerts a ...

(2006–2008) *

Niklas Willén Niklas Willén (born March 30, 1961) is a Swedish conductor. He was born in Stockholm and studied conducting and composition there at the Royal College of Music. His conducting teachers were Professors Jorma Panula and Kjell Ingebretsen, while hi ...

(2010–2013) * Wayne Marshall (2014–2020) * Frank Strobel (2021–present)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:WDR Rundfunkorchester Koln Westdeutscher Rundfunk German symphony orchestras Music in Cologne Musical groups established in 1947 Radio and television orchestras 1947 establishments in Germany

History

Chief conductors

See also

References

External links