The Zurich Chamber Orchestra (Zürcher Kammerorchester; ZKO, German abbreviation) is a Swiss

chamber orchestra Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of Musical instrument, instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a Great chamber, palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music ...

based in

Zurich Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...

. The ZKO's principal concert venue in Zurich is the Tonhalle. The ZKO also performs in Zurich at the

Schauspielhaus Zürich The Schauspielhaus Zürich () is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the history of German-speaking theater. It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" (Peacock Stage). The large theatre has 750 seats. The also operates three stages ...

, the ''ZKO-Haus'' in the Seefeld quarter of the city, and such churches as the

Fraumünster The Fraumünster (; lit. in ) is a church in Zürich which was built on the remains of a former abbey for aristocratic women which was founded in 853 by Louis the German for his daughter Hildegard. He endowed the Benedictine convent with the l ...

and the Kirche St. Peter. The ZKO presents approximately 40 performances in Zurich each year, in addition to approximately 40 children's concerts and performances elsewhere in Switzerland and abroad. In the 2016–2017, season the total number of concerts was 151, a record for the ZKO. The core of the ZKO consists of 28 permanent members (string players, flute, oboe, horn, harpsichord), with other sections (woodwinds, strings, brass, harp and percussion) used as needed.

History

Edmond de Stoutz founded the ZKO in the aftermath of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and led its first concerts in 1945. He served as artistic leader and principal conductor of the ZKO until 1996. He commissioned many works, including Peter Mieg's ''Concerto for oboe and orchestra'' (1957) and Frank Martin's ''Polyptyque for violin and two small string orchestras'' (1973). In 1996, Howard Griffiths assumed the post of artistic director and served until 2006.

Muhai Tang Muhai Tang (; born 1949 in Shanghai) is a Chinese conductor. He is the youngest son of celebrated Chinese film director Tang Xiaodan and brother of painter and poet Tang Muli. Tang initially learned music with his parents, and later studied ...

was the ZKO's third principal conductor and artistic director, from 2006 through 2011. Sir

Roger Norrington Sir Roger Arthur Carver Norrington (born 16 March 1934) is an English conductor. He is known for historically informed performances of Baroque, Classical and Romantic music. In November 2021 Norrington announced his retirement. Life Norri ...

was its fourth principal conductor, starting with the 2011–2012 season. He concluded his ZKO tenure after the 2015–2016 season and now has the title of honorary conductor with the ZKO. Daniel Hope became its music director in the 2016–2017 season. The ZKO enjoys a particular collaboration in baroque music with

Maurice Steger Maurice Steger (born 1971 in Winterthur, Switzerland) is a Swiss recorder player and conductor, mostly in Baroque music. Career Maurice Steger is a frequent guest soloist with leading Baroque ensembles such as the Akademie für Alte Musik Berli ...

. In the US, the ZKO first appeared in New York City in 1955. It was the first Swiss orchestra ever to go on a tour through the USA. The ZKO made its Boston debut in 1967 for the

Peabody Mason Concert Benefactor The name Peabody Mason comes from Miss Fanny Peabody Mason, who until her death in 1948 was an active patron of music both in the United States and abroad. Her musical interests were piano, singing and chamber music. Concert series ...

series. Since then the ZKO visited the US several times, latest in November 2019. The ZKO has made commercial recordings for such labels as Omega, Novalis, Claves, Teldec, CPO, and Sony. In 2017 two of the orchestra's CD-releases were honoured with an Echo Classic Award in the Classics Without Borders category: ''For Seasons'' with Daniel Hope as soloist and ''ÜberBach'' with Sebastian Knauer on the piano.

Artistic directors and principal conductors

* Edmond de Stoutz (1945–1996) * Howard Griffiths (1996–2006) *

(2006–2011) * Sir

(2011–2016) * Daniel Hope (2016–present)

Discography (newer publications)

* ''Zwingli – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.'' Works by Diego Baldenweg with Nora Baldenweg and Lionel Baldenweg. Soloist: Daniel Hope (Violin). GREAT GARBO music, 2019.film music review by Movie Music International''
/ref> * ''Journey to Mozart.'' Works by

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...

and his contemporaries. Soloist: Daniel Hope (violin).

Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon (; DGG) is a German classical music record label that was the precursor of the corporation PolyGram. Headquartered in Berlin Friedrichshain, it is now part of Universal Music Group (UMG) since its merger with the UMG family of ...

, 2018. * ''Bach & Sons 2.'' Works by J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, and J. Chr. Bach. Soloist: Sebastian Knauer (piano). Berlin Classics, 2017. * ''Four Seasons.'' Works by

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, impresario of Baroque music and Roman Catholic priest. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lif ...

Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (German: �joːhan zeˈbasti̯an baχ ( – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his prolific output across a variety of instruments and forms, including the or ...

, Frahm,

Gonzales Gonzales may refer to: Places * Gonzales, California, U.S. * Gonzales, Louisiana, U.S. * Gonzales, Texas, U.S. * Gonzales County, Texas Other uses * Battle of Gonzales, 1835 * Gonzales (horse) (1977 – after 1996), an American-bred Thoroughbr ...

i. a. Soloist: Daniel Hope (violin). Deutsche Grammophon, 2017. (Honoured with an Echo Classic Award 2017) * ''ÜberBach.'' Works by Arash Safaian. Soloists: Sebastian Knauer (Klavier), Pascal Schumacher. Neue Meister, 2016. (Honoured with an Echo Classic Award 2017) *

Haydn Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...

: ''Paris Symphonies.'' Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington.

Sony Classical Sony Classical is an American record label founded in 1924 as Columbia Masterworks Records, a subsidiary of Columbia Records. In 1980, the Columbia Masterworks label was renamed as CBS Masterworks Records. The CBS Records Group was acquired ...

, 2015. * ''Ave Maria / Rejoice / Hallelujah.'' Works by

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

, Mozart, Bach i. a. Soloists: Jonah Schenkel, Conductor: Alphons von Aarburg, Choir: Zürcher Sängerknaben. Tudor, 2015. * Johann Sebastian Bach: ''Klavierkonzerte BWV 1052–1058.'' Soloist: Yorck Kronenberg. Genuin classics, 2014. * Mozart: ''Serenade No. 5, K. 204/213a, Divertimento No. 10, K. 247 «Lodronische Nachtmusik».'' Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Sony Classical, 2014. * ''Vienna 1789.'' Works by Mozart, Haydn and

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. He is one of the most revered figures in the history of Western music; his works rank among the most performed of the classical music repertoire ...

. Soloist: Sebastian Knauer (piano), Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Berlin Classics, 2013. * ''Serenade: Songs for Clarinet.'' Works by

Brahms Johannes Brahms (; ; 7 May 1833 – 3 April 1897) was a German composer, virtuoso pianist, and conductor of the mid- Romantic period. His music is noted for its rhythmic vitality and freer treatment of dissonance, often set within studied ye ...

Grieg Edvard Hagerup Grieg ( , ; 15 June 18434 September 1907) was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is widely considered one of the leading Romantic era composers, and his music is part of the standard classical repertoire worldwide. His use of N ...

, Mozart,

Schubert Franz Peter Schubert (; ; 31 January 179719 November 1828) was an Austrian composer of the late Classical period (music), Classical and early Romantic music, Romantic eras. Despite his short life, Schubert left behind a List of compositions ...

und

Schumann Robert Schumann (; ; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and music critic of the early Romantic music, Romantic era. He composed in all the main musical genres of the time, writing for solo piano, voice and piano, chamber ...

. Soloist: Fabio Di Càsola. Sony Classical, 2013. *

Stravinsky Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ( – 6 April 1971) was a Russian composer and conductor with French citizenship (from 1934) and American citizenship (from 1945). He is widely considered one of the most important and influential composers of ...

: ''

Histoire du Soldat ', or ''Tale of the Soldier'' (as it was first published), is an hour-long 1918 theatrical work to be "read, played and danced ''()''" by three actors, one or more dancers, and a septet of instruments. Its music is by Igor Stravinsky, its libret ...

,'' Dumbarton Oaks: '' Danses concertantes.'' Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Sony Classical, 2013. * ''Bach & Sons.'' Works by J. S. Bach, C. P. E. Bach, and J. Chr. Bach. Soloist: Sebastian Knauer (piano), Conductor: Sir Roger Norrington. Berlin Classics, 2011. *

Antonio Rosetti Francesco Antonio Rosetti (c. 1750 – 30 June 1792) was a classical era composer and double bass player, and was a contemporary of Haydn and Mozart. There is considerable confusion regarding his name. The occasional mention of a supposed, bu ...

: ''Oboe Concertos / Symphonies.'' Soloist: Kurt Meier, Conductor: Johannes Moesus. cpo/ DRS, 2011. * ''

Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and thereafter was regarded ...

& Lewensohn: Sonata For Viola / ViolAlive.'' Soloist:

Gilad Karni Gilad Karni () is an Israeli violist who has played in the New York Philharmonic and is currently principal viola in the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich as well as a soloist and player in chamber ensembles. A founder member of the Huberman Quartet, w ...

, Conductor:

Ariel Zuckermann Ariel Zuckermann (; born in 1973 in Tel Aviv) is an Israelis, Israeli conductor, since 2015 director and conductor of the Israel Chamber Orchestra. Career Ariel Zuckermann began his musical career as flautist. A student of Paul Meisen and A ...

. Sony Classical, 2011. * ''Die wilden Schwäne: Ein Märchen frei nach

Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogue (literature), travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fai ...

.'' Storyteller:

Sandra Studer Sandra Studer (born 10 February 1969 in Zürich), also known as Sandra Simó, is a Swiss television presenter and singer. She in the Eurovision Song Contest 1991, where she placed fifth with the song "". She co-hosted the Eurovision Song Conte ...

, Conductor: Jochen Rieder. 2011.

References

External links

* {{Authority control Chamber orchestras Orchestras in Zurich Musical groups established in 1945 1945 establishments in Switzerland