Biography

A passion for music-making and an unwavering enthusiasm for exploring the unknown have been the hallmarks of the 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, it
Concerto Köln 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. Baroque and early Classical works are usually rehearsed under the direction of the concertmasters: Evgeny Sviridov, Mayumi Hirasaki, Justyna Skatulnik, Anna Dmitrieva or Markus Hoffmann. 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 collaboration with its honorary conductor Kent Nagano and the violinist Shunske Sato.

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.

Cologne, January 2026