The is a German
broadcast orchestra of the ' (WDR, West German Broadcasting) in Cologne. The orchestra gives its concerts in such venues as the
Kölner Philharmonie
The Kölner Philharmonie is a symphonic concert hall located in Cologne, Germany. It is part of the building ensemble of the Museum Ludwig and was opened in 1986. The Kölner Philharmonie is located close to the Cologne Cathedral and the Köln ...
and in the Funkhaus Wallrafplatz.
History
Groups from which the orchestra was formed date back to 1927. In its present form, the orchestra was founded in 1947, with Hermann Hagestedt as its first chief conductor. The orchestra has been known previously as the ''Kölner Rundfunkorchester''.
The orchestra's repertoire includes a full range of popular music, musicals, opera and operetta, film and classical music, including lesser-known oratorio and "easy listening" music. For several years, the orchestra has worked with younger conductors such as
Titus Engel and Rasmus Baumann.
The orchestra's most recent chief conductor was
Wayne Marshall, who held the post from 2014 through 2020. The orchestra's current principal guest conductor is Enrico Delamboye. In November 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Frank Strobel as its next chief conductor, effective in the autumn of 2021.
Chief conductors
* Hermann Hagestedt (1947–1968)
*
Franz Marszalek (1949–1965)
* Curt Cremer (1968–1989)
*
Heinz Geese (1968–1995)
*
Helmuth Froschauer (1997–2006)
*
Michail Jurowski
Michail Vladimirovich Jurowski (; 25 December 1945 – 19 March 2022) was a Russian conductor who worked internationally, based in Germany for most of his career. He was particularly interested in the works of Dmitri Shostakovich, in concerts an ...
(2006–2008)
*
Niklas Willén
Niklas Willén (born 30 March 1961) is a Swedish Conducting, conductor. He was born in Stockholm and studied conducting and composition there at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, Royal College of Music. His conducting teachers were Professo ...
(2010–2013)
*
Wayne Marshall (2014–2020)
* Frank Strobel (2021–present)
See also
*
Studio for Electronic Music (WDR)
The Studio for Electronic Music of the West German Radio (German: ) was a facility of the Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne. It was the first of its kind in the world, and its history reflects the development of electronic music in the second ...
*
WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne
The WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne (German: WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln) is a German radio orchestra based in Cologne, where the orchestra performs at two main concert halls: the WDR Funkhaus Wallrafplatz and the Kölner Philharmonie.
Histo ...
(WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln)
*
WDR Big Band
WDR Big Band is the jazz big band of German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne, Germany.
History
Origins
After World War II, the ''Kölner Rundfunk-Tanzorchester'' (''Cologne Radio Dance Orchestra'') was active from ...
*
WDR Rundfunkchor Köln
The WDR Rundfunkchor Köln (West German Radio Choir Cologne) is the choir of the German broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), based in Cologne. It was founded in 1947. The choir premiered works by contemporary composers including Arnold Schoenb ...
*
Radio orchestra
A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. In ...
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Westdeutscher Rundfunk
German symphony orchestras
Orchestras in Cologne
Musical groups established in 1947
German radio orchestras
1947 establishments in Germany