STRAUSS FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA VIENNA

Orchester

STRAUSS FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA VIENNA „A REAL FIREWORK“
Kölner Rundschau

Since the year of its foundation in 1978 the Strauss Festival Orchestra Vienna, with its highly acclaimed performances in the great concert halls of the world has established itself as a top-class ensemble for the authentic interpretation of viennese music.
With charm and joy the SFO creates true Viennese sounds with an authentic, traditional style at the highest artistic level. With its unique sound, its stylistic precision and its typical Viennese elegance the SFO is one of the worldwide leading ensembles within its genre. Consisting of members of the large Viennese orchestras and excellent specialists, the SFO exists over five decades.

Over 40 years the internationally renowned Strauss specialist Peter Guth and Willy Büchler jointly held the musical direction of the orchestra. With the violin in hand the two conductors both resumed the tradition of the Strauss dynasty into the 21st century. Today, the SFO is led by prominent conductors of the younger generation, who connect the spirit of Viennese music with new inspiration. Countless guest performances led the SFO around the globe; for audiences in Asia, the USA and whole Europe the orchestra ranks among the genuine favourites.

Performances on the most prominent stages of international concert life as the Cologne Philharmonic Hall, the Herkules Hall in Munich, the Suntory Hall Tokyo, the Arts Centre Seoul or the Vienna Musikverein acknowledge international esteem. 2023 the SFO made its debut at the Salzburg Festival.

Collaborations with significant soloists like Placido Domingo, Erwin Schrott, Sonya Yoncheva, Herbert Lippert, Daniela Fally, Christoph Wagner-Trenkwitz, Ildiko Raimondi and many others underline the orchestras relevance.

In its hometown Vienna, the SFO is represented in a special way: since the year 2000, the annual New Year‘s Concerts of the Strauss Festival Orchestra at the Great Hall of the Wiener Konzerthaus are considered as one of the musical highlights at the turn of the year.

With the combination of tradition, virtuosity and lively interpretation the SFO is a synonym for the vital energy of the Viennese music and takes a central role in its preservation as well as innovation.