– aUSTRIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA -

FOUNDED BY AUSTRIAN-MEXICAN SINGER LeÓN DE CASTILLO

FOCUS OF THE REPERTOIRE: Austrian repertoire & OEUVRES FROM THE 19th, 20th and 21st century

 

León managed to put together top musicians from his generation including some promising newcomers to be able to create a sound which is rather unusual as a steady accompaniment for a singer.  The sensitive sound of the string instruments melt in a sensual way with his voice, creating  a lithe, yearning and smooth tone. His most important goal is to work with authenticity and credibility and to explore new ways for classical music.

 

VE was formed during a time when a flurry of international students in Vienna were mingling and making music together in various contexts.

 

It was founded by  León de Castillo, the architect of an exciting series of social and musical events which brought together the circle of friends who now make up the ensemble. Their debut concert took place at the Diplomatic Academy in March 2013. During the first 14 months after the debut concert, many more performances and debuts at important concert halls were possible. (Wiener Konzerthaus, Wiener Musikverein, Schlosstheater Schönbrunn, Wiener Ehrbar Saal, Eroica Saal (Palais Lobkowitz), Sala Nezahualcóyotl, Teatro Peón Contreras, at the mexican State Opera Palacio de Bellas Artes  and at the New Yorker Carnegie Hall among others renowned concert halls.

 

The name was chosen for them in recog-nition of their regular rehearsals and recordings at the Thurn-Valsassina palace in central Vienna. Valsassina is an austrian family of high - aristocratic heritage, originally from Gorizia and their name literally derived from Valle-sassina.

 

León layed the focus of the ensemble on repertoire of the 19th, 20th and 21st century, performing at each concertrepertoire of contemporary composers as Roberto Abraham, Wilhelm Spuller, Gavin Gamboa, Lorenz Müller amongst others, playing therefore many world premieres.

 

In addition to that, the ensemble focuses on interdisciplinary projects to build bridges between classical music and/or electronical music, alternative pop music, fine / visual arts, history and politics.

 

The young viennese chamber orchestra made several debuts at reknowned  Concert Halls during their successful  journey, as in the New Yorker Carnegie Hall, at both of the prime concert-locations in Vienna: Wiener Musikverein and Wiener Konzerthaus, as also at the Mexican State Opera 'Palacio Bellas Artes'.

The famous cellist and conductor Heinrich Schiff prepared the V.E. for concerts between 2013-2016.

Their main conductor since season 2017/2018 is the danish conductor Bernhard Melybe Voss