Concerto Köln

Founded in 1985 in Cologne, Germany, the Concerto Köln is a chamber orchestra that specializes in 18th and 19th century music performed on period instruments. The baroque music ensemble was originally composed of seven instrumentalists and conservatory teachers. The ensemble does not have a permanent conductor although violinist Werner Ehrhardt acts as leader and concertmaster and Martin Sadhoff serves as their artistic director. Over the years, they’ve introduced guest conductors such as René Jacobs, Daniel Harding, Ivor Bolton, Marcus Creed, Louis Langrée, Christopher Molds and Evelino Pido. The group became very popular, touring Europe before founding the Cologne Festival of Early Music in 1992. The Concerto Köln signed with the Capriccio label in 1989 and released numerous recordings including symphonic works by Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, and Mendelssohn. They have also performed and recorded baroque operas, oratorios and cantatas and a series of Mozart concertos with Andreas Staier on the pianoforte. The orchestra also highlights the work of lesser-known composers such as Dussek, Locatelli, Kraus, Brunetti, Rosetti, Dauvergne, Kozeluch, Gossec, Wilms, Rigel, and Myslivecek. Their catalog consists of many titles including Mannheim: The Golden Age (1999), Lost Objects with the experimental group Bang on a Can (2001), Mozart Album (2002), Mozart Album, Vol. 2 (2006), Dream of the Orient (2003), Waltz: Ecstasy and Mysticism with the Sarband Ensemble (2006), Quinta Essentia (2019), and Diabelli Variations After Ludwig Van Beethoven (2020). They’ve also released several compilations during their career including 20 Jahre – 20 Years (2005).