ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien

A world-renowned, leading orchestra, the ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra (RSO) combines tradition with innovation. Founded in 1969, the orchestra is known for its exceptional programming. Works from the Classical-Romantic repertory are performed alongside modern compositions and contemporary music. With Marin Alsop as chief conductor from 2019 to 2025 and an outstanding history of artistic predecessors, the orchestra has built up an international reputation. From 2026/27 Markus Poschner takes up its directorship. In May 2025 Marin Alsop was awarded the title of honorary conductor.

Each year, the Vienna RSO gives concerts at the Musikverein and at the Konzerthaus, while also appearing annually at major festivals at home and abroad. The Orchestra has close ties with the Salzburg Festival, musikprotokoll at steirischer herbst, the Carinthian Summer Music Festival and the Wien Modern Festival. Regular tours take the players to the USA, Latin America, Asia and throughout Europe, where they have performed at the BBC Proms, the Philharmonie de Paris and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Since 2007 the Vienna RSO has appeared regularly at the Theater an der Wien, establishing an excellent reputation as an opera orchestra.

The Vienna RSO has a pioneering reputation for contemporary music and is also a sought-after partner for film productions. Soundtracks for award-winning films such as Kater (Tomcat) and Maestra and collaboration with Oscar-winning composers in the series Hollywood in Vienna bear witness to this versatility. The Vienna RSO’s recording repertory includes recordings for Austrian television and streaming series such as Der Landkrimi and Vienna Blood.

Most of the Orchestra’s performances are broadcast on the radio, both by Ö1 and internationally. In addition, the Vienna RSO has released numerous award-winning CD recordings. Its recording activities include many world premiere recordings of early 20th-century Austrian music, as well as contemporary Austrian pieces. In 2019 the Orchestra’s live recording of Gottfried von Einem’s Der Prozess from Salzburg Festival was awarded the Diapason d’Or and the German Record Critics’ Award. The RSO has also won the OPUS Klassik five times, including most recently for a recording of Prokofiev’s two violin concertos with Tianwa Yang. In 2024 the Orchestra’s album City Noir, featuring works by John Adams, was nominated for a Grammy.

The Orchestra runs a broad educational programme, with workshops for children and young people. Since 1997 talented musicians have been annually admitted into the Orchestra’s academy.