Camerata Salzburg
"In search of exellence"

Chiefconductor: Leonidas Kavakos

Hitting the right note is paramount for any speaker. But for musicians it is existential. The art, the challenge, the essence are to be found beyond  interpreting the “visible”, what is in the score. This is where the reality of music begins. It was this guiding principle which the legendary violinist Sándor Végh gave to the ensemble, originally founded in 1952 by Bernhard Paumgartner, and which shaped the Camerata’s stylistic identity from 1978 until Végh’s death in 1997. This principle lives on today.

Over 50 years of orchestra history have matured the Camerata into a tradition-filled chamber orchestra. Yet it consists of young, motivated musicians who, according to the Swiss Neue Zürcher Zeitung “ play with a commitment and a joy in music-making which is infectious…”. The Camerata Salzburg is exceptional – musically, socially and organisationally. The ensemble is a mirror image of the international world through which it travels. Its 24 nationalities reflect various their cultures, but all are  united by the universal language of music. This is underscored by a considerable achievement: the 80 plus concerts which they play each year are nearly all privately financed - a rarity in Europe.

True to its motto “In Search of Excellence”, the orchestra offers top quality concerts either together with outstanding conductors and soloists or with their First Concertmaster, Natalie Chee. These are characterised by the “Camerata sound”, the product of a special musical spirit, whereby each retains their individuality within the ensemble.

And so it is not surprising that a whole host of well-known international artists are delighted to accept the orchestra’s invitation to play. The season’s guests 2006/07 include Julian Rachlin, Rudolf Buchbinder, Christian Arming, Heinrich Schiff, Thomas Quastoff and Silvain Cambreling. Guest appearances will take them to Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Hongkong, Seoul, the Netherlands and Luxembourg amongst others with Sir Roger Norrington, their Chief Conductor from 1997 till 2006 and Leonidas Kavakos their new Artistic Director.

Regular invitations to the Schubertiade, the Carinthian Summer as well as to Salzburg’s Mozartwoche are complemented by the Camerata’s own three-day  “Begegnung” Festival, in their home town. Further established fixtures are the orchestra’s own New Year`s  Concert and a subscription concert series in Salzburg as well as at the Konzerthaus in Vienna.