The Cologne Chamber Orchestra (Kölner Kammerorchester), founded in 1923 by Hermann Abendroth, is the oldest chamber orchestra of the region. Its first concerts took place 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 Americas and Asia, receiving invitations to many international festivals. From 1976 to 1986 the orchestra, under the name Capella Clementina, played on historical instruments, setting a pattern for performance practice and helping to revive baroque music theatre. Since 1988 the orchestra has had its own annual concert series at the Cologne Philharmonic. 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. Christian Ludwig served as music director of the orchestra from 2008 to 2011. Since then and significantly after the death of Helmuth Müller-Brühl on 3 January 2012, the Cologne Chamber Orchestra has worked with different international guest conductors.

Photo courtesy of Christopher Clem Franken