Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra

The Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra (also known in English as the "SWR Baden-Baden and Freiburg Symphony Orchestra" or "SWR Symphony Orchestra", and in German as the "Sinfonieorchester des Südwestrundfunks" or "SWR Sinfonieorchester") is a radio orchestra located in the German cities of Baden-Baden and Freiburg. The first incarnation of the orchestra occurred in 1946, initially with members of the discontinued spa orchestra of the city as the core of players. The revival of the spa orchestra two years later forced the reorganization of the radio orchestra. Subsequently, Hans Rosbaud was hired as the orchestra's first chief conductor. Rosbaud was already well known as a champion of modern music, and Heinrich Strobel, the music director in charge of the orchestra, shared this sympathy with contemporary music. Thus the orchestra had, and continues to have, as its focus performances of modern music. [Potts, Joseph E., "European Radio Orchestras: Western Germany" (September 1955). "The Musical Times", 96 (1351): 473-475.]

The current chief conductor is Sylvain Cambreling. The orchestra's main guest conductors are Michael Gielen and Hans Zender.

References

Chief conductors

* Sylvain Cambreling: 1999 – present
* Michael Gielen: 1986 – 1999
* Kazimierz Kord: 1980 – 1986
* Ernest Bour: 1964 – 1979
* Hans Rosbaud: 1948 – 1962

External links

* [http://www.swr.de/swr2/faszination-musik/orchester/so/en/index.html Homepage]
* [http://www.swr.de/swr2/faszination-musik/cd-label/so.html Discography]