The Vienna Academy Orchestra is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 1978 by Martin Haselböck, an Austrian conductor and organist. The orchestra is based in Vienna, Austria, and is known for its performances of Baroque and Classical music. The founding of the Vienna Academy Orchestra was inspired by the historical performance movement, which sought to recreate the sound and style of music from earlier periods. Haselböck, who was a student of the renowned conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt, was particularly interested in this movement and wanted to create an orchestra that would specialize in historically informed performances. The orchestra's name is a reference to the Accademia Filarmonica di Bologna, a music academy that was founded in the 17th century and played an important role in the development of Baroque music. The Vienna Academy Orchestra seeks to continue this tradition by performing music from the Baroque and Classical periods in a historically informed manner. The Vienna Academy Orchestra has had many members over the years, but some of its most notable members include Martin Haselböck, who serves as the orchestra's conductor and artistic director, and Erich Höbarth, who is the orchestra's concertmaster. Other members of the orchestra include musicians who specialize in playing period instruments, such as the harpsichord, the viola da gamba, and the natural horn. The Vienna Academy Orchestra has performed at many prestigious venues around the world, including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and Carnegie Hall in New York City. The orchestra has also collaborated with many renowned soloists, including Cecilia Bartoli, Andreas Scholl, and Isabelle Faust. One of the highlights of the Vienna Academy Orchestra's career was its performance of Mozart's Requiem at the Salzburg Festival in 1991. This performance was particularly significant because it was the first time that the Requiem had been performed in Salzburg using period instruments. The performance was widely praised for its authenticity and was later released as a recording. Another notable performance by the Vienna Academy Orchestra was its collaboration with the choreographer John Neumeier on a production of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. This production, which premiered in Hamburg in 2003, was praised for its innovative staging and the orchestra's sensitive and nuanced playing. The Vienna Academy Orchestra has also received many awards and accolades over the years. In 1999, the orchestra was awarded the Echo Klassik award for its recording of Mozart's Requiem. The orchestra has also been praised for its recordings of works by Haydn, Beethoven, and Schubert. In addition to its performances and recordings, the Vienna Academy Orchestra is also committed to education and outreach. The orchestra regularly holds workshops and masterclasses for young musicians, and it has also collaborated with schools and community organizations to bring classical music to a wider audience. Overall, the Vienna Academy Orchestra is a highly respected ensemble that has made significant contributions to the historical performance movement. With its commitment to authenticity and its sensitive and nuanced playing, the orchestra has earned a reputation as one of the finest Baroque and Classical ensembles in the world.

More....