Konrad von Abel, director
The Orchestre des Régions Européennes (Orchestra of the European Regions) is acquiring an international reputation thanks to its artistic director Konrad von Abel, an exceptional musician who specialized in conducting under the teachings of Sergiu Celibidache.
The quality and variety of the programs, with an emphasis on music of the 20th century, and the unconditional devotion of both the conductor and his musicians, foster emotions one would think belong to the past and enthuse audiences.
This can only happen thanks to a profound, regular and longlasting labour which enables the musicians not only to immerse themselves in the compositions until full hearing and comprehension of them, but also to acquire unity and homogeneity as a whole group.
The orchestra has performed about 80 concerts since its foundation by the Celibidache Association in 1999, both in France and internationally.
In 2001, the President of the Senate commissioned it to play at the Palais du Luxembourg and, from Fall 2002 the orchestra was invited to participate in a number of international festivals a.o. the Festival of Chamber Orchestras in Lienzingen-Maulbronn and Sergiu Celibidache Festival in Munich.
One of the aims of the orchestra is to promote creations of contemporary music. In 2002, it premiered French composer Nicolas Bacri's Sinfonietta op. 72 in Germany, and in 2003, Swiss composer Richard Dubugnon's Mélodies for soprano and strings op. 8.
In 2003, the Orchestra of the European Regions was named official partner of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and toured extensively throughout France as an ambassador of the 40th anniversary of French-German friendship, with the participation of soloists of international fame such as Anne Marchand, soprano, and David Guerrier, young trumpetist prodigy and winner of the September 2003 International Competition of the German Television (ARD).
In October 2004, the orchestra toured France and Germany extensively (Berlin, Hanover, Munich, Lyon a.o.) with an exceptional program of works by Kaminski, Schwarz-Schilling and Heinz Schubert, and received an award from the Siemens Foundation for the Culture.
In April 2005, the Orchestra of the European Regions was invited by the Festival of Historical Centre of Mexico City and performed five concerts in the country.
The Orchestra of the European Regions is composed of 26 steady string players, professional musicians or senior students who have been auditioned throughout Europe, and enrolls the necessary wind players when symphonic programs apply.
Each program is prepared by ten days of two to three rehearsals per day. The orchestra usually meets and tours three times a year.
The Musikproduktion Jürgen Höflich organized 2 projects with the ORE together: the "Kaminski Tour" 2004 and a tour throughout Mexico in 2005.