Chamber Orchestra of Europe

The Chamber Orchestra of Europe, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary season, was founded in 1981. It draws its membership of fifty musicians from fifteen countries; they perform together mainly in continental Europe where the orchestra has developed important links with the cities of Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Graz and Paris. From its inception the COE has appeared with the world’s leading conductors and has recorded over 200 works for which it has won many international awards. Within the last two years the orchestra has undertaken its fifth tour of the United States, and accepted numerous concert and festival engagements throughout Europe, appearing with many distinguished artists.

Among its recent recordings are an award-winning CD of the Beethoven Triple Concerto, Rondo and Choral Fantasy conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Mozart piano concertos directed from the keyboard by Pierre-Laurent Aimard, and Bach violin concertos with Akiko Suwanai. Its recording of Schubert Lieder with Claudio Abbado, Anne Sofie von Otter and Thomas Quasthoff won the ‘Best Classical Vocal Performance’ category in the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004.