Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria

Registration date:	2008-04-04
Original orchestra name:	Tonkünstler-Orchester Niederösterreich
Country:	Austria
City:	St. Pölten
Address:	Kulturbezirk 2
Telephone:	+43 2742 908070
Fax:	+43 2742 908071
Homepage:	http://www.tonkuenstler.at
Contact person:	Johannes Neubert, Executive Director
Contact language(s):	English, German
Contact e-mail:	manuela.salzmann@tonkuenstler.at

Description
The Tonkünstler Orchestra of Lower Austria is among the most important institutions in the Austrian musical scene. The orchestra can look back on a rich tradition and toward a varied future. The classical repertoire is an important focus of the orchestra’s artistic work. At the same time the Tonkünstler set important trends to ensure continued resonance for themselves and for orchestral culture in general.

The Tonkünstler are future-oriented in that they tread alternative paths with regard to their programmes and by proactively including new layers of the audience. The repertoire is constantly expanding, with every programme focussing on a central theme. The inclusion of genres such as jazz and world music ensures that the Tonkünstler remain up-to-date at all times. They realise creative concepts by cooperating with extraordinary soloists and ensembles.
By incorporating attractive contemporary works into their programmes – including commissioned compositions by Krzysztof Penderecki, Kurt Schwertsik, Arvo Pärt, Tan Dun, Heinz Holliger and Christian Muthspiel – they overcome the fear of new music. The Tonkünstler were the first Austrian orchestra to establish a department for music didactics in 2003: in workshops, members of the orchestra introduce school classes to individual concerts and musical theatre performances, thus boosting the musical sensibility of the young generation of lovers of music.