Conductor: Christian Ludwig

The Cologne Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1923 by Hermann Abendroth, gave its first concerts under the direction of Hermann Abendroth and Otto Klemperer. Helmut Müller-Brühl took over in 1963 and, in collaboration with numerous international soloists, the orchestra appeared with great success throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia, receiving invitations to many international festivals. Since 1988 the orchestra has had its own annual concert series at the Kölner Philharmonie. Over 200 recordings, broadcasts and television appearances document the orchestra’s vast repertoire which, since 1995, has been continually extended by recordings for Naxos. In 2001 the orchestra won a Cannes Classical Award for its recording of Telemann’s Darmstadt Overtures (8.554244), one of a number of acclaimed recordings, and in June 2009 was invited to Rome by Pope Benedict XVI to perform Haydn’s Harmoniemesse during the Whitsun Mass in St Peter’s.

Christian Ludwig was appointed the orchestra’s Music Director from the 2008/2009 season, and since then they have appeared together in Munich, Paris, Rome and Cologne.

Photo courtesy of Christopher Clem Franken