Orchestras & Choirs
Orchestras
Concentus musicus Wien
The Concentus musicus Wien was founded in 1953 on the initiative of Nikolaus Harnoncourt as an exploratory group of interested young musicians, primarily from the ranks of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. During his studies at the Vienna Academy of Music, Harnoncourt had already noticed the discrepancy between baroque painting and architecture and the music that went with it…
Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE)
played a central role in Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s work from 1986 onwards. He particularly appreciated the orchestra’s impartiality and lack of tradition. The musicians came together for projects and were quickly able to engage with new interpretative approaches. The first concert took place in 1986 with a Beethoven programme at the Vienna Konzerthaus.
Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest
From 1975, this modern orchestra invited Nikolaus Harnoncourt to perform Bach Passions every year, embraced his revolutionary approach and remained loyal to him. Over the decades, a close collaboration was established with numerous tours and recordings. The repertoire quickly expanded to include Rameau, Mozart, Handel, Haydn, Schubert, Beethoven, Johann Strauss and staged opera productions in Amsterdam.
The Vienna Philharmonic
Harnoncourt conducted the Vienna Philharmonic for the first time in a subscription concert on 8 December 1984, which was also released commercially on CD. Further projects followed, culminating in the outstanding New Year’s Concerts in 2001 and 2003 and leading to major projects and tours. You can read all about the further collaboration here.
Orchestra of the Zurich Opera
In 1985, the Zurich Opera Orchestra was formed following the separation of the traditional Tonhalle and theatre orchestras. Since 2012, the orchestra has been called Philharmonia Zurich. Nikolaus Harnoncourt first performed Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo (directed by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle) in 1975 with this orchestra and guests under the name Monteverdi Ensemble of the Zurich Opera House.
Choirs
Arnold Schoenberg Chor
The collaboration between Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Arnold Schoenberg Choir began in 1978 with Handel’s Jephtha. Together with the Concentus musicus Wien, they would form an inseparable bond that would last until the end, resulting in countless concerts, tours and recordings. Find out more in the interview with Prof Erwin Ortner.
In 2001, they won the Grammy for Best Choral Performance for their recording of Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
Vienna Boy’s Chor and Chorus Viennensis
The alliance between Nikolaus Harnoncourt, the Concentus musicus Wien and the Vienna Boys’ Choir and Chorus Viennensis extends from 1961 to 2014. Under the direction of Hans Gillesberger, they spent countless recording sessions together at the Casino Zögernitz, primarily with Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantatas, motets and passions, but also numerous concerts. Using boys as soprano soloists for Bach’s music was considered daring and new at the time and was much discussed.
Tölz Boy’s Choir (Germany)
The collaboration between Nikolaus Harnoncourt, the Concentus musicus Wien and the Tölz Boys’ Choir began in 1976. The musical director Gerhard Schmidt-Gaden observes Harnoncourt’s music-making very closely from Bavaria and is keen to work with him. Long recording sessions at the Casino Zögernitz, especially with Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantatas, motets and passions, but also numerous concerts followed. Using boys as soprano soloists for Bach’s music was considered daring and new at the time and was much discussed.