WDR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

The WDR Symphony Orchestra is one of the leading orchestras in Germany. Despite its strong regional presence, with the renowned Kölner Philharmonie as its home venue, it has a high national and international reputation. It performs in the major concert halls throughout Germany and Europe such as the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg or the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, at festivals such as the BBC Proms and the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival as well as on tours throughout Asia and Europe. CD productions, winning the Annual Prize of the German Record Critics or the International Classical Music Award, complement the ensemble‘s portfolio.

Since 2019/20 season, the WDR Symphony orchestra has been under the baton of Cristian Măcelaru, who joins a long tradition of important principal conductors, including Christoph von Dohnányi, Gary Bertini, Semyon Bychkov and Jukka-Pekka Saraste.

A strong engagement with contemporary music contributes significantly to the ensemble‘s artistic identity: Since the 1950s, the WDR Symphony Orchestra has been writing music history with its concert series „Musik der Zeit“ (Music of Our Times). With over 750 world premieres to its credit, the orchestra is one of the world’s most important commissioners of contemporary compositions.

The WDR Symphony Orchestra is also committed to making classical music accessible to a broad audience. Many of its concerts are broadcasted on television, radio, via live streams or as video on demand. The ensemble inspires young listeners in music education projects such as the »Concert with the Mouse«, Germany’s most popular children’s TV character; but also offers adults an introduction to the world of classical music with the »WDR Happy Hour«, short concerts in the early evening with a presenter explaining the works performed. With its »Traumwandler« music videos, the orchestra succeeds in creating a completely new way of classical music storytelling.

CRISTIAN MĂCELARU

Cristian Măcelaru is one of the outstanding conductors of his generation. He has been chief conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra since the 2019/20 season and directeur musical de l‘Orchestre National de France since 2020. In addition, he is the artistic director of the »Cabrillo Festival« for contemporary music in California and the George Enescu Festival in Romania.

As a guest conductor, he works with leading orchestras in America and Europe, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal ConcertgebouwOrchestra, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra or Gewandhausorchester Leipzig.

Born in Timişoara, Cristian Măcelaru has close ties with his Romanian homeland. He not only acts as artistic director of the George Enescu Festival, but also works regularly with the Filarmonica Banatul Timişoara, which shaped his artistic career in his youth. Always keen on building bridges through music, Romania‘s cultural exchange with other countries is a matter close to his heart.

Cristian Măcelaru is thoroughly committed to elevating young musicians and impresses as an outstanding music mediator. Since 2020, he has been artistic director and principal conductor of the World Youth Symphony Orchestra; he regularly introduces musical works on the classical radio channel WDR 3 and in his accessible video series »Kurz und Klassik«.