The Basel Chamber Orchestra is deeply rooted in the city of Basel – with its two subscription series in the Stadtcasino Basel as well as in Don Bosco Basel – with world tours and more than 60 concerts per season.
As the first orchestra to be awarded the Swiss Music Prize in 2019, the Basel Chamber Orchestra stands out for its excellence and diversity as well as for its depth and consistency as with the long-term project Haydn2032 under the direction of principal guest conductor Giovanni Antonini and together with the Ensemble Il Giardino Armonico. Since the 2022/23 season, the Basel Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of early music specialist Philippe Herreweghe, has dedicated itself to all of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s symphonies.
The Basel Chamber Orchestra frequently collaborates with selected soloists such as Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Franco Fagioli, Isabelle Faust and Kristian Bezuidenhout also under the artistic direction of the first violins and the baton of selected conductors such as Nodoka Okisawa, Heinz Holliger, René Jacobs and Pierre Bleuse.
The concert programmes range from early music on historical instruments to contemporary music and historically informed interpretations.
An important element of the work is the future-oriented education programm. The creative work of the Basel Chamber Orchestra is documented by an extensive and award-winning discography.
The Clariant Foundation has been the presenting sponsor of the Basel Chamber Orchestra since 2019