About the orchestra

As Vienna’s cultural ambassador and premier concert orchestra, the Wiener Symphoniker handles the lion’s share of symphonic activity that makes up the musical life of the city. The preservation of the traditional, Viennese orchestral sound occupies a central role in the orchestra’s many artistic pursuits. The Wiener Symphoniker is one of Europe’s most prestigious ensembles and boasts 128 members. For this reason, the orchestra is precisely the right vehicle for the great Romantic works of Brahms, Bruckner, Mahler and Richard Strauss that constitute its core repertoire.

The Vienna Musikverein and nearby Konzerthaus are the principal performing venues of the Wiener Symphoniker. The orchestra has also been in residence at the Bregenzer Festspiele since 1946 and continues to maintain close ties to the festival. Beginning in 2006, the orchestra added another feather to its cap: The Wiener Symphoniker now serves as resident opera orchestra for a whole host of stylistically diverse productions taking place at the Theater an der Wien. Periodic international tours to the most important music centers round out the extensive portfolio of this traditional, Viennese orchestra.



About the Conductors

Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Bruno Walter, Hans Knappertsbusch, George Szell, Herbert von Karajan, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Georges Prêtre and Fabio Luisi are among the many prominent conductors who have shaped the sound and interpretive style of this tradition-rich, Viennese orchestral institution.

Around thirty conductors make music with the Wiener Symphoniker each season, including numerous, young podium stars, some of whom have celebrated their first big successes with the orchestra.
Philippe Jordan is the Music Director of the Wiener Symphoniker. The former Chief Conductors Georges Prêtre and Wolfgang Sawallisch have maintained close ties with “their” orchestra. The Wiener Symphoniker has expressed its special esteem and gratitude by conferring on them the title of “Honorary Conductor”.

© Wiener Symphoniker