The Grammy® Award-winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra is internationally renowned for its fine artistry and distinctive approach to music-making, with a performing and recording legacy spanning 35 years. Performing with many of today’s most dynamic and esteemed soloists, Orpheus presents an annual concert series at Carnegie Hall that illuminates both classic orchestral repertoire and new works by contemporary composers. Noted by critics and audiences alike for their unsurpassed energy, sensitivity, and connection to listeners, Orpheus is considered one of New York’s cultural treasures.
In the 2007-2008 season, Orpheus collaborates with world-renowned artists, including pianists Yefim Bronfman and Christian Zacharias, soprano Dame Felicity Lott, and violinists Nikolaj Znaider and Sarah Chang. The Orchestra will premiere commissioned works by Christopher Theofanidis, Tania León and Charles Wuorinen. Mr. Theofanidis’ new work, titled Muse, will be the second installment of the New Brandenburgs commissioning project, a four-year project premiering six new orchestra works modeled on Bach’s “Brandenburg” concertos.
In addition to appearances at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Orpheus tours on a regular basis throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Orpheus’s 2007-2008 season tour includes multiple appearances in Asia and throughout the United States at concert halls in the Miami and Washington, DC regions, as well as the states of New Jersey, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania. Orpheus’ 2008 two-week Asia tour includes performances in Japan and Korea.
The Orpheus recording legacy consists of more than 70 albums and a 2001 Grammy® Award for Shadow Dances: Stravinsky Miniatures. Their extensive catalog for Deutsche Grammophon includes the Baroque classics, works by Haydn, Mozart, Dvorák, Grieg and Tchaikovsky, as well as a number of 20th century masterpieces. Additional releases include a recording of English and American folk songs with countertenor Andreas Scholl (Decca); Creation, a collection the jazz-inspired music from 1920s Paris with saxophonist Branford Marsalis (SONY Classical); and a critically-acclaimed series of Mozart’s greatest piano concerti with Richard Goode (Nonesuch). Orpheus resumed recording in 2007, after a hiatus of more than six years. The orchestra releases its first disc on EMI Classics – a recording of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons with Sarah Chang – in the fall of 2007.
Orpheus is building significant bridges between conservatory training and the professional music field in through the Orpheus Institute. Orpheus musicians share their unique artist-centered philosophy, methodology and skills with students at the Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music. A year-long comprehensive set of seminars and courses provides opportunities for students to develop artistic and administrative leadership skills that will enhance their ability to participate fully in any performing arts organizations that might employ them.
Founded in 1972 by cellist Julian Fifer and a group of fellow musicians who aspired to present musician-led performances of standard and contemporary orchestral repertoire, Orpheus is a self governing organization. Central to its distinctive personality is its practice of sharing and rotating leadership roles. For every work, the members of the orchestra select the concertmaster and the principal players for each section.
The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra website, www.orpheusnyc.org, provides information on the ensemble, the musicians, performances, and special events. The Orchestra also blogs at blog.orpheusnyc.org.