The Vienna Symphony Orchestra is the concert orchestra of the City of Vienna, being responsible for the greater part of the musical life of the capital city. The orchestra makes approximately 160 appearances each year with concerts and opera performances. In addition, numerous tours are undertaken throughout Europe and elsewhere. The orchestra was formed in 1900 with the name Vienna Concert Society. During the First World War the orchestra was saved from being disbanded only by a fusion with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, founded in 1913. In the years following 1945, thanks to the efforts of the Principal Conductor Hans Swarowsky and Josef Krips, the orchestra was rebuilt.
The orchestra has been conducted by many renowned personalities including Bruno Walter, Richard Strauss, Wilhelm Furtwängler, Oswald Kabasta, George Szell, Hans Knappertsbusch, Herbert von Karajan, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Carlo Maria Giulini, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, George Prêtre, Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Claudio Abbado, Sergiu Celibidache and Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. From 1997 until the end of 2004, the Principal Conductor was Vladimir Fedoseyev, and commencing with the 2005/2006 season, the post has been filled by Fabio Luisi. Additionally, Yakov Kreizberg has been Principal Guest Conductor since October 2003.
