Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra is one of four major orchestral ensembles based in Vienna, the others being the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, and Vienna Symphony Orchestra. The ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, or ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, is unique because it is the only radio symphony orchestra in Austria and is thus the official Austrian broadcast orchestra. Its repertory has been broad, taking in pre-Classical, Classical, Romantic, and 20th century music, with a substantial portion devoted to contemporary works.
The Vienna RSO was formed in 1969, from the ORF Symphony Orchestra, a postwar ensemble largely devoted to contemporary music. The new ensemble retained the name of the parent orchestra, and its management appointed the first chief conductor, Milan Horvat (1969-1975), who largely retained the policy of promoting the music of contemporary Austrian composers and works by Schoenberg, Berg, and Webern. With the ascension of Leif Segerstam as chief conductor in 1975, the Vienna RSO, while retaining a strong allegiance to 20th century music, began to focus attention on Classical and Romantic works as well. This tendency was expanded further when Lothar Zagrosek (1982-1986) succeeded Segerstam. Zagrosek often played rarely encountered Classical works. Pinchas Steinberg served as chief conductor from 1989-1996. It was in the latter year that the ensemble adopted the name Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. More importantly, the management also appointed Dennis Russell Davies as the new chief conductor. Davies made numerous recordings with the orchestra, almost all focusing on modern or contemporary works by the likes of Berio, Glass, Kancheli, Silvestrov, and Tüür. Bertrand de Billy succeeded Davies in 2002. He was even more active in the recording studio, with well over 20 recordings to his credit, recordings that covered broader repertory, including many standards by Haydn, Beethoven, Dvorák, Debussy, and more. Toward the end of his tenure, de Billy had disputes with orchestra management that led to his decision to step down. In 2009, the orchestra was renamed to its current name, ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra. That same year, management announced that Cornelius Meister would succeed de Billy in 2010; Meister remained in this post until 2018. In 2019, Marin Alsop assumed the orchestra's chief conductor position, becoming the first woman to hold the post.
The Vienna RSO performs at one of four Viennese locales: the Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, ORF RadioKulturhaus, and the Theater an der Wien. The ensemble receives government funding and is regarded as a cultural goodwill ambassador for Austria. The orchestra gives regular tours abroad; previous trips have taken them throughout Europe, the Americas, China, and Japan. It has recorded for such labels as CPO, Sony Classical, Orfeo, and Oehms Classics, among many others. In 2020, the Vienna RSO was heard on the Capriccio album Ernst von Dohnányi: The Veil of Pierrette, under Ariane Matiakh, and the Naxos album, Morton Gould: Symphonettes Nos. 2-4; Spirituals for Orchestra, under Arthur Fagen.
© Robert Cummings /TiVo
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Morton Feldman: Coptic Light & String Quartet & Orchestra
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Classical - Released by CapriccioNR on Jun 5, 2020
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
The World of Hans Zimmer - A Symphonic Celebration (Live)
Hans Zimmer, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Martin Gellner
Classical - Released by Sony Classical - Sony Music on Mar 15, 2019
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gould: Symphonettes Nos. 2-4 & Spirituals for String Choir & Orchestra
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Fagen
Classical - Released by Naxos on Mar 27, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven Trilogy 1: Fantasia
See Siang Wong, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Singverein
Classical - Released by Sony Classical - Sony Music on Dec 11, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Prokofiev: Violin Works
Tianwa Yang, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Jun Märkl
Classical - Released by Naxos on Oct 8, 2021
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Shostakovich, Weinberg & Jolivet: Concertos for Trumpet & Piano
Selina Ott, Maria Radutu, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Dirk Kaftan
Classical - Released by Orfeo on Mar 4, 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Opéra-Comique Overtures
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Michael Halasz
Classical - Released by Naxos on May 8, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gershwin & Ravel: Piano Concertos
Pascal Rogé, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bertrand de Billy
Classical - Released by Oehms Classics on May 14, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Zemlinsky: Sinfonietta, Op. 23, 6 Songs, Op. 13 & Der König Kandaules, Op. 26 (Excerpts)
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Petra Lang, Siegfried Lorenz, Susanna Mälkki, Gerd Albrecht
Classical - Released by CapriccioNR on Apr 3, 2020
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Bartók: Kossuth - Concerto for Orchestra
Radio Symphonieorchester Wien, Cornelius Meister
Classical - Released by CPO on Feb 8, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven Trilogy 1: Fantasia
See Siang Wong, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Wiener Singverein
Classical - Released by Sony Classical - Sony Music on Dec 11, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Stamitz: Concerto for Clarinet, Bassoon and Orchestra in B major
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Karl Etti
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on May 17, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cerha: Spiegel - Monumentum Für Karl Prantl - Für K - World Premier Recordings (Digitally Remastered)
Classical - Released by EMG Classical on Oct 5, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bittner: Der Bergsee - Verdi: Othello
Opera - Released by Myto Historical on Aug 21, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Debussy - Ravel - Hindemith: Orchestral Images
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra and Milan Horvat, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat
Classical - Released by Telos on Apr 20, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Janacek: Sinfonietta for Orchestra JW 6/18 "Military"
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on May 17, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schumann: Symphony No.1 in B Flat Major Op.38 "Spring"
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on May 17, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beethoven: The Creatures Of Prometheus, Op. 43
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on May 17, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Debussy: Images For Orchestra No. 2 Iberia, L 122
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on May 17, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Symphony No. 92 'Oxford' in G major, Hob.I:92
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Milan Horvat
Classical - Released by Red Note OMP on May 17, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
House & Court Music
Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra
Miscellaneous - Released by Largo on Jul 11, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo