Tour Dates: 2005

Daniel Schweizer - Chief Conductor

Zurich Symphony Orchestra (S-O-Z)

Created in 1981 by Daniel Schweizer and is one of four professional orchestras in the city of Zurich.

The core activity of the orchestra includes two different concert series, which take place in the Tonhalle in Zurich – an afternoon series and an evening series. In addition it supports many choral engagements and makes itself available for other concert and concert hall events as well as to companies, associations and organizations.

Highly versatile, the S-O-Z undertakes musical engagements from a chamber orchestra to a full symphony orchestra. As a result of this wide range of abilities it can be described as an “adaptable and flexible Symphony Orchestra”. Consequently, it performs all over Switzerland and its intensive musical program is rounded off by regular engagements in foreign countries.

Having a loyal and supportive audience, the orchestra finances itself from sales of its performances and as a consequence is commercially independent. Funding from public authorities only amounts to 5-8% of its expenditure.

The S-O-Z completes its musical offer with a respective collection of CD-recordings. The repertoire of the orchestra has a wide span from baroque to classical through the romantic period to the new music of today. Its ability to step into this crossover area is proof of the innovative spirit of the Zurich Symphony Orhcestra.

Daniel Schweizer, Chief Conductor

The conductor Daniel Schweizer was born in Switzerland in 1953. After cello studies at the Zurich Conservatorium with Frédéric Mottier and in Essen with Janos Starker, he received an Aargao arts council award which enabled him to study conducting at the Freiburg University with Francis Travis. His conducting studies were continued with Sergiu Celibidache in Trier and Munich as well as at the University of Mainz.

Daniel Schweizer made his debut as a conductor at the age of 28 when the orchestra which he founded, the Zurich Symphony Orchestra, gave its first performance in 1981. The entire development of the Zurich Symphony Orchestra, from then until the present day, has been under his leadership. This orchestra specializes in unconventional programs which integrate musical rarities and contemporary music into the traditional mould of standard symphonic repertoire. He has been praised for his first performances of works by contemporary composers.

Daniel Schweizer’s international activities include music festivals in Spain and Portugal. He is also guest conductor for Swiss orchestras and has been invited abroad to conduct orchestras in Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Singapore, Korea, USA, Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. A respectable collection of CDs documents his musical activities.