| Organization | 27 people |
|---|---|
| orchestra | 23 people (4 first violins, 2 second violins, 2 violas, 3 cellos, 2 double basses, 1 flute, 1 oboe, 1 clarinet, 1 bassoon, 2 horns, 1 trumpet, 1 trombone, 1 piano, 1 percussion) |
| ballet dancer | 1 pair (1 male and 1 female) |
| opera singer | 2 people (1 male and 1 female) |
Over 300 concerts a year in Vienna, and they boast an outstanding amount of popularity.
First-class musicians inherit the fragrant Viennese tradition.
Founded by members of the Vienna Volksoper. The sounds of elegant and splendid polkas, waltzes and marches!
Vienna Salon Orchestra Salonorchester Alt Wien
Formed in 1994 by members of the Vienna Volksoper Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Udo Zwölfer, the Vienna Salon Orchestra was established with the mission of delivering authentic Viennese music to visitors from around the globe. Featuring performances by top-tier musicians in an atmosphere true to Vienna's essence, the orchestra boasts a diverse repertoire spanning overtures, waltzes, polkas, marches, and other compositions by renowned Viennese composers such as Joseph Lanner, the Strauss family, Karel Komzak, Carl Michael Ziehrer, Fritz Kreisler, Emmerich Kálmán, Franz Lehár, and Robert Stolz.
The orchestra presents selections from Johann Strauss's iconic operettas, including "Die Fledermaus," "The Gypsy Baron," "One Night in Venice," and "Vienna Blood," as well as Lehár's "The Merry Widow" and Kálmán's "The Gypsy Princess" and "Countess Maritza." Their repertoire also encompasses a wide array of famous arias and duets from operettas such as Karl Zeller's "The Bird Seller," Millecker's "The Beggar Student," and "Gasparone." While deeply rooted in preserving Viennese traditional music, the orchestra also embraces works by contemporary composers like Albert William Ketèlbey and Leroy Anderson.
Led by Udo Zwölfer, who not only conducts but also showcases his violin prowess, the Vienna Salon Orchestra is renowned for its close rapport with audiences and playful performance style, creating an ambiance of joy and delight in the concert hall. In addition to regular performances at Vienna's prestigious venues like the Musikverein Hall, the orchestra also stages concerts at various locations including the Hofburg Palace Hall, the National Library Hall, and the Vienna Stock Exchange Festival Hall. Since 1998, it has been immensely popular, hosting over 300 concerts annually in Vienna.
In 2001, the historic Vienna Kursalon underwent renovation, becoming the Vienna Salon Orchestra's home base. This traditional hall, where luminaries such as Johann and Eduard Strauss, Franz Lehár, and Nico Dostal once graced the stage, has garnered overwhelming support from both audiences and critics alike.
The Vienna Salon Orchestra has also gained international acclaim through tours in Japan in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2006, as well as performances in China and Long Beach, California in 2004, all receiving rave reviews.
Udo Zwölfer (Music Artistic Director/Concertmaster)
Born in Vienna, Udo Zwölfer pursued his musical education at the Vienna State Academy (now the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna) and the Vienna City Conservatory (currently the Vienna Conservatorium Private Music College). Even during his student years, Zwölfer showcased his talents through numerous concerts alongside renowned artists, both in Vienna and on international tours spanning countries such as France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Croatia, South Korea, Taiwan, China, the United States, and Japan.
In 1980, Zwölfer attained the prestigious position of the first concertmaster at the Volksoper Wien. Building on his rich experience and passion for Viennese music, he founded the Vienna Salon Orchestra in 1994, assembling a group of talented orchestral players from the Volksoper Wien. The orchestra's partnership with S. Susnyala, the current manager of Kursalon Wien—an esteemed venue historically associated with Johann Strauss II—marked a significant milestone in 1999. Under this collaboration, the orchestra embarked on its performance endeavors in earnest.
Zwölfer assumed dual roles as the first music and artistic director of the orchestra, simultaneously leading the ensemble as concertmaster. His instrument of choice is a 1774 violin crafted by Tommaso Eberle in Naples, Italy.