Robert-Schumann-Philharmonie Chemnitz Musicians

The Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the most traditional orchestras in Germany. Founded in 1833 as a municipal orchestra by Wilhelm August Mejo in Chemnitz, the orchestra became increasingly important beyond the region. Oscar Malata was the first General Music Director of the Chemnitz Opernhaus , which opened in 1909. Guest conductors such as Richard Strauss, Fritz Busch, Otto Klemperer, Bruno Walter, Erich Kleiber, Arthur Nikisch, Arnold Schönberg, Max Reger and Paul Hindemith performed with the orchestra. Between 1945 and 1974, Rudolf Kempe, Martin Egelkraut, Robert Satanowski, Gert Bahner and Gerhard Rolf Bauer, among others, determined the fate of the orchestra. During the almost 20-year tenure of GMD Dieter-Gerhardt Worm, the orchestra was given its current name. John Carewe (1993 to 1996), Oleg Caetani (1996 to 2001) and Niksa Bareza (2001 to 2007) served as General Music Directors at the Opernhaus , which reopened in 1992. As General Music Director between 2007 and 2016, Frank Beermann focused his attention on CD productions in the opera and concert sector, among other things, and repeatedly helped the orchestra to gain national attention and awards such as the ECHO Klassik. After Felix Bender served as acting GMD in 2016/2017, Guillermo García Calvo was General Music Director of Theater Chemnitz from 2017 to 2023. Benjamin Reiners will take over the position of General Music Director at the start of the 2025/2026 season.

In recent years, conductors such as Vitali Alekseenok, Elias Grandy, François Leleux and soloists as Lisa Batiashvili, Frank Dupree, Felix Klieser, Albrecht Mayer, Valeriy Sokolov, Martin Stadtfeld and Christian Tetzlaff performed in Chemnitz. The Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra is a welcome partner of various concert organizers. Guest performances have taken the orchestra to New York, Venice, Salzburg, the Tonhalle Zurich, the Brucknerhaus Linz, the Vienna Musikverein, Frankfurt am Main, Cologne, Munich, Berlin and Dresden. In addition to performances in Opera, operetta, musicals and ballet, the orchestra's activities include regular symphony concerts and chamber music evenings as well as other concerts with large and small ensembles. Children's and youth work plays a particularly important role in the orchestra's program.

Since 2026 the orchestra supports the ideas of the association „Orchester des Wandels“ and plans some concerts and activities.