Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
There is perhaps no other musical ensemble more consistently and closely associated with
the history and tradition of European classical music than the Vienna Philharmonic
Orchestra. In the course of its 170-year history, the musicians of this most prominent
orchestra of the capital city of music have been an integral part of a musical epoch
that-thanks to an abundance of gifted composers and interpreters-must certainly be regarded
as unique.
The orchestra's close association with this rich musical history is best illustrated by
the statements of countless preeminent musical personalities of the past. Wagner described
the orchestra as being one of the most outstanding in the world; Bruckner called it "the
most superior musical association"; Brahms counted himself a "friend and admirer"; Gustav
Mahler claimed to be joined together with the orchestra through "the bonds of musical art";
and Richard Strauss summarized these sentiments by saying, "All praise of the Vienna
Philharmonic reveals itself as understatement."
The Vienna State Opera Orchestra holds a special relationship with the private association
known as the Vienna Philharmonic. In accordance with Philharmonic statutes, only a member
of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra can become a member of the Vienna Philharmonic. The
engagement in the Vienna State Opera Orchestra provides the musicians a financial stability
that would be impossible to attain without relinquishing their autonomy to private or
corporate sponsors. Over the course of more than one and a half centuries, this chosen path
of democratic self-administration has experienced slight modifications, but has never been
substantially altered. The foremost ruling body of the organization is the orchestra
itself.
The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra's mission is to communicate the humanitarian message of
music into the daily lives and consciousness of its listeners. For more than a decade, the
orchestra has been giving benefit concerts in support of humanitarian causes around the
world, and since 1999, makes an annual donation of 100,000 Euros from its New Year's
concert to a variety of international charitable organizations. In 2005, the orchestra was
named Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health Organization. As of November 2008, Rolex is
the worldwide presenting sponsor of the Vienna Philharmonic. The musicians endeavor to
implement the motto with which Ludwig van Beethoven, whose symphonic works served as a
catalyst for the creation of the orchestra, prefaced his Missa solemnis: "From the
heart, to the heart."
Lorin Maazel
For more than 50 years, Lorin Maazel has been one of the world's most esteemed and
sought-after conductors. Music director of the New York Philharmonic from 2002-2009, he
assumes the same post with the Münchner Philharmoniker at the start of the 2012-2013
season. He is also the founder and artistic director of a new festival based on his farm
property in Virginia, the Castleton Festival, launched to exceptional acclaim in 2009 and
expanding its activities nationally and internationally in 2011 and beyond.
Maestro Maazel is a highly regarded composer, with a wide-ranging catalogue of works
written primarily over the last dozen years. His first opera, 1984, based on
George Orwell's literary masterpiece, had its world premiere at the Royal Opera House,
Covent Garden, in May 2005, and was broadcast on radio and television by the BBC and on
many other national radio networks worldwide.
A second-generation American born in Paris, Mr. Maazel began violin lessons at age five
and conducting lessons at age seven. He appeared publicly for the first time at age eight,
conducting a university orchestra. Between ages nine and 15, he made his New York debut at
the 1939 World's Fair, conducting the Interlochen Orchestra; led the Los Angeles
Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, sharing a program with Leopold Stokowski; and conducted
most of the major American orchestras, including the NBC Symphony Orchestra at the
invitation of Toscanini. His New York Philharmonic debut came in 1942. In the years since,
Maestro Maazel has conducted more than 150 orchestras in no fewer than 5,000 opera and
concert performances. He has made more than 300 recordings, including symphonic cycles or
complete orchestral works of Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, Mahler, Schubert, Tchaikovsky,
Rachmaninoff, and Richard Strauss, winning 10 Grands Prix du Disques.
Maestro Maazel has been music director of the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
(1993-2002); music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (1988-1996); general
manager and chief conductor of the Vienna State Opera (1982-1984), the first American to
hold that position; music director of The Cleveland Orchestra (1972-1982); and artistic
director and chief conductor of the Deutsche Oper Berlin (1965-1971). He is an honorary
member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and his close association with that ensemble
includes 11 internationally televised New Year's concerts from Vienna.