Salzburg's Mozarteum Orchestra

The orchestra was established by Salzburg's residents in 1841, 50 years after Mozart's death, as a "Cathedral Music Society und Mozarteum“, assisted by the great composer's widow, Constanze von Nissen, and his sons Franz Xaver and Karl Mozart. The Mozarteum Orchestra was separated from the Mozarteum School of Music (today's Mozarteum University) in 1939, becoming an independent institution and – since 1958 – the city and province of Salzburg's official symphony orchestra.
Its diversified artistic work concentrates on Mozart and the music of Vienna Classicism. The orchestra organizes the Mozart Matinees at the Salzburg Festival, featuring a number of prominent conductors and soloists, but also plays a significant role in musical theater. Its focus is on classical music in the concerts performed during Mozart Week and on its countless tours around the world. The orchestra is an important ambassador for Austria's music.
In addition to approximately 80 musical theater performances at the Salzburger Landestheater and concerts with the largest symphonic repertoire for Salzburg's Cultural Society, the orchestra has performed a cycle of its own in the Large Hall of the Mozarteum since 2003/04, sponsored by the International Mozarteum Foundation. The orchestra fosters contemporary music and is a major supporter of the stART Festival of modern music. Its program is rounded off by chamber music associations and youth concerts. The orchestra is an important facet of Salzburg's cultural life.

The internationally acclaimed Englishman, Ivor Bolton, chief conductor since the fall of 2004, has already scored great successes with the Mozarteum Orchestra, performing works ranging from Händel to Britten.
Hubert Soudant (chief conductor from 1994 to 2004) will continue to act as the chief guest conductor at the orchestra's request.

An increasing number of recordings document the orchestra's work. Mozart's compositions in the "Festival Documents“ series, Bruckner symphonies, premiere performances and recordings of Mozart symphonies and all of Beethoven's piano concertos (featuring Valery Afanassiev) are available on OehmsClassics.