The ORF (Austrian Radio and Television) Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna is a top orchestra of world renown; the orchestra defines itself in the Vienna orchestral tradition. Cornelius Meister took over as Principal Conductor in autumn 2010. The Late Romantics and contemporary works, together with seldom-performed or unjustly forgotten works form the orchestra‘s main repertoire. Providing the ORF with material is a key objective of the Radio Symphony Orchestra, especially „Österreich 1", the cultural radio programme. In addition, the orchestra is internationally represented in top-quality foreign radio stations.
History

The ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra has its regular place in the Vienna concert season, with subscriptions both in the Wiener Musikverein and in the Wiener Konzerthaus. It also performs regularly at major festivals at home and abroad; here it must suffice to mention close ties with the Salzburg Festival, the Vienna Festival, Wien Modern as well as the musikprotokoll im steirischen herbst. Since 2007, the RSO has also established itself as an opera, orchestra through regular performances at the Theater an der Wien.

The ORF Radio Symphony Orchestra emerged from the erstwhile Austrian Radio Orchestra in 1969; it has since made its mark as one of Austria‘s most versatile orchestras. Under its Principal Conductors, Milan Horvat, Leif Segerstam, Lothar Zagrosek, Pinchas Steinberg, Dennis Russell Davies and Bertrand de Billy it has steadily extended its repertoire from Pre-classical to the Avant-garde. In autumn 2009, the renowned Hungarian composer and conductor, Peter Eötvös, was appointed First Guest Conductor.

Repertory

The RSO Vienna‘s considerable recording repertoire for the ORF and for CD publication covers a wide range of works: several first recordings of works from the Classic Austrian Modern repertoire, as well as contemporary Austrian works. Mention must here be made of the CD series, „New Austrian Music", which comprises orchestral works by, amongst others, Friedrich Cerha, HK Gruber, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, Christian Muthspiel and Johannes Maria Staud; further landmark recordings include Egon Wellesz‘ nine symphonies, the orchestral music of Josef Matthias Hauer as well as first recordings of music by Erich Zeisl. French music has always played a central role in the orchestra‘s repertoire, with recordings of works by Dutilleux as well as a DVD recording of Debussy‘s „Pelleas et Mélisande".

Year of foundation
1969
Genres
Classical, Contemporary
Instrument types
Brass, Percussion, Strings (bow), Strings (plucked), Woodwinds
Country
Austria
City
Vienna