WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln

The WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln is one of the leading orchestras in Germany. Despite its international reputation, it also has a strong local presence, with the renowned Kölner Philharmonie concert hall as its home venue. It also performs in major halls throughout Germany and Europe such as the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg or the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, at festivals such as the BBC Proms, Romania’s George Enescu Festival or the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, as well as during regular tours throughout Asia and Europe. Award-winning CD productions complement the ensemble's portfolio.

Since 2019, the orchestra has been under the baton of Cristian Măcelaru, following the footsteps of important predecessors including Christoph von Dohnányi, Gary Bertini, Semyon Bychkov and Jukka-Pekka Saraste. Designated principal conductor of the WDR Symphony Orchestra is the French conductor Marie Jacquot, who will take on this role in the 2026/27 season.

In addition to cultivating the symphonic repertoire, the WDR Symphony Orchestra is particularly committed to performing contemporary music. Since the 1950s, the 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, it is one of the world’s most important commissioners of contemporary compositions.

Regular CD productions complement the orchestra's repertoire. Among the recordings conducted by Cristian Măcelaru that have been highly praised by experts and audiences alike and have won awards are Béla Bartók’s Dance Suite and “The Wooden Prince” as well as orchestral works by Sergei Rachmaninov. Most recently, a CD featuring works by Elsa Barraine was released as part of a series of works by female composers.

The WDR Symphony Orchestra is also committed to making classical music accessible to a broad public. Most of its concerts are available digitally via live stream and on demand and are accompanied by additional digital content; reaching over 30 million video views annually. The orchestra can also be seen regularly on the traditional media of radio and TV. WDR Symphony Orchestra is strongly involved in education projects and inspires young listeners. In addition, it is involved in numerous educational projects, such as the “Konzert mit der Maus”, concerts for school classes, and innovative formats outside the traditional concert scene.

It also aims to offer adults an introduction to the world of classical music with the “WDR Happy Hour” and casual lunch concerts.