SWR Symphonieorchester

The SWR Symphonieorchester is the orchestra for Germany's Südwestrundfunk public radio, continuing the traditions of its predecessors in the performance of the traditional repertoire with a sustained focus on contemporary works. The orchestra came about as the result of a controversial merging of the SWR Baden-Baden and Freiburg and SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestras; it draws its membership from the two defunct groups. Péter Eötvös led the SWR Symphonieorchester in its inaugural concert in 2016. Teodor Currentzis was announced as the orchestra's first chief conductor in 2017, taking up the baton in 2018. The SWR Symphonieorchester's first album, a recording of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11, conducted by Eliahu Inbal, was issued in 2021. The following year, the orchestra, led by Nicholas McGegan, was heard on a recording of Mozart works for violin and orchestra with Gil Shaham as the soloist.