This orchestra was founded by the cellist Julian Fifer in New York in 1972 and was made up of students and conservatory graduates and is a conductor-less group which is self-governing. The members of the orchestra pick the principals and concertmaster depending on what piece of music they are going to be playing.
They have grown in stature to become one of the world’s leading orchestras and have worked with acclaimed soloists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham, Itzak Perlman, Isaac Stern and Martha Argerich among many others.
Their recordings number more than 70 albums and include works by countless acclaimed composers as well as premieres of Bruce Adolphe, Han Yong, Elliott Carter and William Bolcom, to name a few, and their CD Shadow Dances: Stravinsky Miniatures won a Grammy Award in 2001.
The current orchestra is made up of 30 musicians and many of these occupy teaching positions in the musical schools and conservatories in and around New York and New England.
Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni recordings
Adagio in G Minor
Deutsche Grammophon 429 390-2 GH (CD: Albinoni: Adagio, Pachelbel: Canon)
Sources:
- http://www.orpheusnyc.org/The_Orchestra.html
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus_Chamber_Orchestra
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/orpheus-chamber-orchestra-mn0000066697/biography
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/837570-Orpheus-Chamber-Orchestra