Claudio Abbado founded the orchestra Filarmonica della Scala in 1982 with the goal of expanding the traditions of Milan’s opera theatre to include a symphonic repertoire. In its first years, the ensemble was closely associated with Carlo Maria Giulini. Then, from 1987, Riccardo Muti stood at its helm for nearly two decades. Under his leadership the orchestra was a regular guest on the stages of the world’s most prestigious concert halls. In the years that followed the ensemble has collaborated with such star conductors as Lorin Maazel, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Valery Gergiev, and Daniel Barenboim. Its present chief conductor is Riccardo Chailly. The orchestra has many recordings to its credit on the Decca, Sony, and EMI labels. In 2013 on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Giuseppe Verdi’s birth, it recorded the CD “Viva Verdi”, which became Italy’s best selling classical album. Each year, the orchestra gives a big outdoor concert in front of Milan’s cathedral, and it is broadcast live to many countries.

Energy, elegance, and spirit – these are the characteristics that best describe the Columbian native Andrés Orozco-Estrada as a musician and one of the most respected conductors of his generation. Beginning in the 2020/21 season, he will put his strengths to use as the music director of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. In addition, since the 2014/15 season, he has been the chief conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra and the music director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra. At the same time, he guest conducts many of the world’s top orchestras, including the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Staatskapelle Dresden, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His multiple appearances at the festivals in Glyndebourne and Salzburg have met with great success, while his recordings on the Pentatone label have attracted favourable critical attention. Highlights from last season include his concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic at the BBC Proms and in Lucerne as well as on tour in China, South Korea, and Japan.

"Rachlin is the real thing, a virtuoso with heart and a champion's bearing."

The Los Angeles Times

Julian Rachlin is one of the most renowned artistic personalities of our time. In his 30+ year career, Mr. Rachlin’s multifaceted interests have taken him across the globe as a conductor, soloist, recording artist, chamber musician, teacher, and artistic director. As a violinist, Rachlin has shared the stage with virtually every major orchestra and conductor. A frequent presence on the conductor’s podium, his performances have thrilled audiences worldwide and his electrifying and sensitive interpretations have placed him at the forefront of classical music.

Julian Rachlin is chief conductor of the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra and music director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. He will be touring Europe with the latter in the 2024/25 season.

Rachlin’s elegant and dynamic style has cemented his reputation as conductor. Known for his meticulous rehearsal methods and superb musicianship, he has conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Russian National Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the RAI National Symphony Orchestra as well as at the Grand Teton and Verbier festivals. Mr. Rachlin also served as principal guest conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and as principal artistic partner of the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

A major presence in the performing arts since the age of thirteen, Mr. Rachlin has spent over three decades cementing his reputation as one of the world’s premiere classical violinists. Recent highlights as soloist or as conductor include appearances with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra under Klaus Mäkelä, the Helsinki Philharmonic, Sofia Philharmonic, Warsaw Philharmonic, Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala under Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Yuri Termirkanov and the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

A strong proponent of expanding the relevance of classical music within today’s cultural framework, Mr. Rachlin’s projects with living composers and cross-media collaborations have brought together artists from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds and genres. He has worked closely with, and premiered works of, Krzysztof Penderecki, Giya Kancheli, Vangelis and Lera Auerbach. In 2000, he joined Mstislav Rostropovich in the premiere of Penderecki’s Sextet and Penderecki later wrote and dedicated the Concerto Doppio for Violin, Viola, and Orchestra as well as the Ciaccona for Violin and Viola to Mr. Rachlin. He has appeared in films, collaborated with digital installation artists, and has worked with noted personalities including John Malkovich, Sir Roger Moore, and Gerard Depardieu.

Rachlin’s renowned music festivals reflect his joie de vivre and passion for bringing great artists and international audiences together in a celebration of music and art. He frequently collaborates with longtime musical partners Martha Argerich, Evgeny Kissin, Denis Matsuev, Janine Jansen, Vilde Frang and Mischa Maisky. His untiring work and dedication for his "Julian Rachlin & Friends" festival in Dubrovnik, Croatia that ran for over a decade, has been recognized worldwide, and Mr. Rachlin has recently been appointed the 2021 artistic director of the Herbstgold Festival at the legendary Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria.

Dedicated to educating and supporting young talent, Mr. Rachlin founded the Julian Rachlin and Friends Foundation to help nurture the careers of extraordinary young musicians. Since 1999, Mr. Rachlin has served as a faculty member and professor at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna.

Mr. Rachlin is the recipient of numerous awards recognizing his work in the field of classical music, including as an Accademia Musicale Chigiana Siena Prize laureate, World Economic Forum “Young Global Leader", and a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund. In 2013, Mr. Rachlin performed alongside Zubin Mehta and the Bavarian State Orchestra at the historic “Peace for Kashmir” concert at the Shalimar Bagh Mughal Garden in Srinagar, Kashmir, the first ever performance by a Western orchestra in that region.

Born in Lithuania, Rachlin emigrated to Vienna with his family at the age of three, where he studied violin under the renowned Boris Kuschnir at Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. He also received private lessons from Pinchas Zukerman in New York City. Mr. Rachlin also completed conducting studies with Maestro Mariss Jansons and Sophie Rachlin and was mentored by Maestro Daniele Gatti.

Mr. Rachlin plays the 1704 "ex Liebig" Stradivari and a 1785 Lorenzo Storioni viola, on loan to him courtesy of the Dkfm. Angelika Prokopp Privatstiftung. His strings are kindly sponsored by Thomastik- Infeld. Mr. Rachlin’s critically acclaimed recordings can be heard on Deutsche Grammophon, Sony Classical, and Warner Class.

source: Künstleragentur Dr. Raab & Dr. Böhm

The Rudolfinum is one of the most important Neo-Renaissance edifices in the Czech Republic. In its conception as a multi-purpose cultural centre it was quite unique in Europe at the time of its construction. Based on a joint design by two outstanding Czech architects, Josef Zítek and Josef Schultz, a magnificent building was erected serving for concerts, as a gallery, and as a museum. The grand opening on 7 February 1885 was attended by Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria, in whose honour the structure was named. In 1896 the very first concert of the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra took place in the Rudolfinum's main concert hall, under the baton of the composer Antonín Dvořák whose name was later bestowed on the hall.