Concerto Köln

  • Chamber Orchestra

Germany and different countries

Concerto_Köln_2023_1_©_Sonja Werner

A passion for music-making and an unwavering enthusiasm for exploring the unknown have been the hallmarks of Concerto Köln for 40 years now. With its unmistakable sound, the orchestra has been one of the leading ensembles in the field of historical performance practice since its foundation in 1985.

Firmly rooted in Cologne’s musical life, whilst also regularly appearing in the world’s musical capitals and at renowned festivals, Concerto Köln is synonymous with outstanding interpretations of early music. Concerto Köln succeeds in interpreting even familiar repertoire in a way that is “as fresh and striking as if one were hearing it for the first time” (Die ZEIT).

The interpretations are developed through a collaborative process following careful study of the sources. The focus is always on recreating the original sound of the period in which the respective works were composed. This passion for the quest for the historical sound also unites the ensemble in its long-standing and fruitful collaborations with its honorary conductor Kent Nagano and soloists, such as the violinist Shunske Sato.

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Concerto Köln is looking forward to a North American tour in 2026, including a return engagement at Carnegie Hall in New York. The programme also features guest performances in Zurich, Warsaw, Leipzig, Halle, Essen and other cities. The orchestra is also very much looking forward to reuniting with inspiring artistic partners such as Jeanine De Bique, Valer Sabadus, Olga Pashchenko and many more.

Concerto Köln will be making two appearances at the Elbphilharmonie in 2026: at the end of March with a performance of the St John Passion together with the NDR Vocal Ensemble under the baton of Klaas Stok, and in May together with the Dresden Festival Orchestra for a performance of Götterdämmerung.

The academic and artistic project “The Wagner Cycles”, led by Kent Nagano in collaboration with the Dresden Festival Orchestra, is drawing to a close this year with “Götterdämmerung”. Performances will take place in Dresden, Bayreuth, Hamburg, Cologne, Paris and Lucerne, amongst other venues.

And last but not least, Concerto Köln is celebrating Christina of Sweden’s anniversary in its #WeCelebrate 2026 series. The orchestra is looking forward to exciting encounters with interested school pupils as part of its educational projects centred on the Swedish princess.

Since 2008, the ensemble has been closely associated with the Berlin Classics label, whilst also remaining active for other labels. Its discography now comprises over 75 recordings, including many award-winning productions – for example, the recording of Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro” conducted by René Jacobs was honoured with a Grammy Award.

Concerto Köln’s work is made possible by the support of dedicated patrons, including the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Kunststiftung NRW, the Goethe-Institut, the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, and the City of Cologne.

https://www.concerto-koeln.de/en/

As of: 2026

For any changes please ask Weigold & Böhm.

Contacts

News

Concerts

  • Dresdner Festspielorchester & Concerto Köln

    Luzern, 5:00 pm

    Orchestra:

    Dresdner Festspielorchester, Concerto Köln

    Conductor:

    Kent Nagano

    Program:

    Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen Götterdämmerung

    Young Woo Kim | Siegfried
    Asa Jäger | Brünnhilde
    Patrick Zielke | Hagen
    Johannes Kammler | Gunther
    Sophia Brommer | Gutrune
    Daniel Schmutzhard | Alberich
    Annika Schlicht | Waltraute
    Ania Vegry | Woglinde
    Ida Aldrian | Welgunde
    Eva Vogel | Flosshilde
    Jasmin Etminan | 1. Norn
    Marie-Luise Dreßen | 2. Norn
    Valentina Farcas | 3. Norn

    Dresdner Festspielorchester
    Concerto Köln
    Dresdner Festspielchor der Richard-Wagner-Akademie
    Chor der KlangVerwaltung

    The Wagner Cycles - Ein Projekt der Dresdner Musikfestspiele

    Location:

    Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern KKL Luzern

    Organizer:

    https://www.lucernefestival.ch

    • Concerto Köln

  • Dresdner Festspielorchester & Concerto Köln

    Paris, 5:00 pm

    Orchestra:

    Dresdner Festspielorchester, Concerto Köln

    Conductor:

    Kent Nagano

    Program:

    Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen Götterdämmerung

    Wagner: Der Ring des Nibelungen Götterdämmerung

    Young Woo Kim | Siegfried
    Asa Jäger | Brünnhilde
    Patrick Zielke | Hagen
    Johannes Kammler | Gunther
    Sophia Brommer | Gutrune
    Daniel Schmutzhard | Alberich
    Annika Schlicht | Waltraute
    Ania Vegry | Woglinde
    Ida Aldrian | Welgunde
    Eva Vogel | Flosshilde
    Jasmin Etminan | 1. Norn
    Marie-Luise Dreßen | 2. Norn
    Valentina Farcas | 3. Norn

    Dresdner Festspielorchester
    Concerto Köln
    Dresdner Festspielchor der Richard-Wagner-Akademie
    Chor der KlangVerwaltung

    The Wagner Cycles - Ein Projekt der Dresdner Musikfestspiele

    Location:

    Théâtre des Champs Élysées (TCE)

    Organizer:

    https://www.theatrechampselysees.fr

    • Concerto Köln

Projects

  • Further dates upon request

    Concerto Köln (18 Musiker) – Valer Sabadus (Countertenor)

    London 1734/35 - Händel vs. Porpora

    Program:

    Konkurrenzkampf zwischen Nicola Porpora und der "Opera of the Nobility" am Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre und Georg Friedrich Händels "Royal Academy of Music" am Haymarket Theatre und später dem Covent Garden Theatre.
    Ein Clash zwischen zwei Gesangsstars der damaligen Zeit, Farinelli und Carestini.

    Programm:
    G.F. Händel - "Gran Tonante, Giove immenso", Arie des Apollo aus "Parnasso in Festa" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    N. Porpora - "Nel già bramoso petto", Arie des Achille aus "Ifigenie in Aulide" (Kastrat: Farinelli)
    G.F. Händel - "Oh patria! Oh cittadini!", "Sol ristoro di mortali", Arien des Teseo aus "Arianna in Creta" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Qui ti sfido, o mostro infame!", Arie des Teseo aus "Arianna in Creta" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    ~
    R. Broschi - "Or la nube procellosa", "Se al labbro mio non credi", aus Pasticcio "Artaserse" (Kastrat: Farinelli)
    G.F. Händel - "Non tardate, fauni ancora", Arie des Apollo aus "Parnasso in festa" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Scherza infida", Arie des Ariodante aus "Ariodante" (Kastrat: Carestini)
    G.F. Händel - "Sento il fato", Arie de Aci aus "Polifemo" (Kastrat: Farinelli)

  • The Wagner Cycles - Dresdner Festspielorchester & Concerto Köln, Dirigent: Kent Nagano - Solisten tbc

    Ein Projekt der Dresdner Musikfestspiele

    Program:

    Wagner - Die Götterdämmerung

  • Further dates upon request

    Concerto Köln

    Zurück in die Zukunft – barocke Antworten auf moderne Fragen

    Program:

    Ein Konzert über die großen Themen der Menschheit: Spekulation und Macht, Krieg und Frieden – und die ewige Frage: Hat sich eigentlich irgendetwas geändert?

    Von Reichen und Mächtigen, Krieg und Frieden
    Georg Friedrich Händel (1685–1759) - Ouvertüre zu Giulio Cesare in Egitto – 4′ – D-Dur
    Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644–1704) - Battalia – ca. 10′ (Der Krieg als Karikatur seiner selbst)
    Georg Muffat (1653–1704) - Passacaglia aus Armonico Tributo – ca. 10′ (Versöhnung und Friede)
    Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741) -  Concerto „Il Grosso Mogul“ RV 431a – ca. 15′ (Ein musikalisches Porträt kolonialer Größe)
    ~
    Geld, Täuschung & Spekulation – sind wir denn alle verrückt geworden?
    Pietro Antonio Locatelli (1695–1764) - Introduzioni teatrali op. 4 Nr. 3 – B-Dur - ca 6'  
    Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767) - Suite La Bourse TWV 55:B11 – ca. 22′ (Börse des Barock als Spiegel der Wall Street)
    Francesco Geminiani (1687–1762) - La Follia – ca. 13′ (Die barocke Ekstase: Wahnsinn, Virtuosität, und die triumphale Rückkehr der Lebenslust)

  • Further dates upon request

    Concerto Köln - Rheinische Kantorei - Edzard Burchards (Leitung)

    Mozart & Hoffmann - zum 250. Geburtstag von E.T.A. Hoffmann

    Program:

    W. A. Mozart (1756 - 1791) - Davide penitente
    E.T.A Hoffmann (1776 - 1822) - Miserere b-moll

  • Further dates upon request

    Concerto Köln (18 Musiker)

    "Der Club der toten Dichter" - Christina von Schwedens Accademia dell'Arcadia

    Program:

    Das Konzertprogramm spiegelt die kulturelle Vision der außergewöhnlichen Monarchin aus Stockholm wider. Es vereint barocke Meisterwerke, die den Geist der Accademia sowie das kosmopolitische und unkonventionelle Erbe Christinas von Schweden lebendig werden lassen.

    Konzertprogramm:
    G. F. Händel - Ouvertüre zu Il Trionfo
    A. Vivaldi / G. Visconti - Violinkonzert RV 299
    B. Pasquini - Toccata g-Moll aus Sonate per gravecembalo
    P. Castrucci - Concerto Grosso g-Moll Nr. 11
    G. F. Händel - Concerto grosso op. 6 Nr. 9 F-Dur
    ~
    A. Caldara - Sinfonia aus La Conversione di Clodoveo, Ré di Francia
    A. Scarlatti - Concerto g-Moll
    G. B. Somis - Concerto F-Dur
    B. Marcello - Oboenkonzert d-Moll
    A. Corelli - Concerto grosso op. 6 Nr. 4 D-Dur

    Optional möglich mit einer historischen Einführung in das Leben Christinas und die Gründung der Akademie oder als Gesprächskonzert, ergänzt durch Texte aus ihren Memoiren und Aphorismen sowie Gedichten aus der Accademia.

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