Vienna Symphony Orchestra

With their rich history, the courage to stand by their own convictions, and a continuous joy of discovery, the Wiener Symphoniker are the beating heart of Vienna, the city of classical music. For more than 120 years, the orchestra has shaped and defined the unique sound culture of its home city, creating an unparalleled connection between past, present, and future.

Founded in 1900, the Symphoniker embody the legacy of Beethoven and Viennese Romanticism and are still considered definitive for this repertoire. Among the chief conductors of the past 120 years – including Wilhelm Furtwängler, Hans Swarowsky, Herbert von Karajan, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and Georges Prêtre – are many visionaries who have had a lasting impact on the global classical scene.

Numerous milestones in music history, such as Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony, Schönberg’s »Gurre-Lieder«, Ravel’s Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, and Franz Schmidt’s »The Book with Seven Seals«, were premiered by the Symphoniker. Even today, the orchestra places great importance on collaborating with contemporary composers such as Olga Neuwirth, Wolfgang Rihm, HK Gruber, Thomas Larcher, Johannes Maria Staud, Michael Jarrell, Guillaume Connesson, Dieter Ammann, and Jörg Widmann.

As official cultural ambassadors, the Wiener Symphoniker bring the sound of their homeland to major international concert halls and welcome the world in the form of numerous renowned guest conductors, including Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Claudio Abbado, Carlos Kleiber, and Sergiu Celibidache, to the Austrian capital. Additionally, the ensemble has delighted a diverse opera audience for many decades as the Orchestra in Residence at the Bregenz Festival. Despite their forward-thinking spirit, the Wiener Symphoniker have always been known for their closeness to the audience. Through their »Grätzl Concerts«, they perform regularly in all of Vienna’s municipal districts.