New horizons: 50th anniversary of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn

 

"The pillar of Heilbronn's music scene." "An international calling card for Heilbronn as a centre of the arts." "An excellent ambassador on tours of Germany and abroad." The Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn has certainly been highly praised. And its foundation fifty years ago can be regarded as a great moment for culture in the region and far beyond.

 

Its story goes back to the late 1950s and early 1960s in Heilbronn. Local authority funding had dried up for the Heilbronn Symphony Orchestra, which had been performing since 1948, and no concerts were scheduled for the 1960/61 winter season. Yet although gripped by reconstruction, Heilbronn City Council was still keen to make a cultural contribution despite its limited financial means. Thus it was that Mayor Paul Meyle contacted Jörg Faerber, the young musical director of local theatre Kleines Theater Heilbronn, who had long been keen to leave the city and work for the opera. In his report, Faerber recommended attempting a musical venture with 13–15 musicians instead of 60 – and consequently ended up staying in Heilbronn after all.

 

New horizons: 50th anniversary of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn

Counterpoint: Foundation on 6 November 1960

Opus 1: Debut concert on 13 January 1961

Stringendo: 'Württemberg' Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn

Unisono: World-travellers yet close to home

Duet: Encounters with soloists

A tempo: Faerber's 'search for authenticity'

Maestro: Founder, inspiration, guiding father, trustee, European

Forte: A new era starts in 2002 with Ruben Gazarian

Tutti: Social popularity

Vivace: Tradition and new musical worlds

Overture: Chronology of the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra of Heilbronn