Skip to main content

Südwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim

South-west German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim

A fresh and gripping musical approach and stylistic diversity from early to contemporary music are the distinctive mark of the South-west German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim. With a fixed base of fourteen musicians from seven countries the ensemble is one of the very few full-time chamber orchestras and recognized for its exceptional homogeneity and flexibility of the sound.

The South-west German Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1950 by Friedrich Tilegant, a pupil of Paul Hindemith. The ensemble quickly gained international recognition and was heard at the festivals in Salzburg, Lucerne and Leipzig as well as on world-wide tours and on numerous recordings (Deutsche Grammophon, Vox, Erato, Telefunken, Intercord). Maurice André, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Frans Brüggen and Yehudi Menuhin were just some of the great musicians who have worked with the orchestra. Following the Tilegant era the orchestra was directed by Paul Angerer, Vladislav Czarnecki and Sebastian Tewinkel. With the start of the 2013-14 season Timo Handschuh has assumed the position of Artistic Director.

The South-west German Chamber Orchestra has made numerous radio broadcasts and more than 250 recordings, of which a number have been awarded international prizes. Currently the orchestra plays together with renowned soloists such as Nigel Kennedy, Mischa Maisky, Christian Tetzlaff, Lars Vogt,  and Mischa Maisky. It has been invited to perform in almost all European countries (Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Prague Autumn, Flanders Festival, EuroMediterraneo International Festival Rome, Vienna OsterKlang Festival, Auditorio Tonhalle Zurich, Berlin Philharmony, Sala Verdi Milan) as well as in the USA and Japan.

Discography