| Variations of Name | Zürcher Kammerorchester; ZKO |
| Biography | The Zurich Chamber Orchestra is a Swiss chamber orchestra based in Zurich. The ZKO's principal concert venue in Zurich is the Tonhalle. The ZKO also performs in Zurich at the Schauspielhaus Zürich, the ZKO-Haus in the Seefeld quarter of the city, and such churches as the Fraumünster and the Kirche St. Peter. The ZKO presents approximately 40 performances in Zurich each year, in addition to approximately 40 children's concerts and performances elsewhere in Switzerland and abroad. In the season 2016/17 the total number of concerts rose up to 151 which was a record for the orchestra.
The core of the ZKO consists of 28 permanent members (string players, flute, oboe, horn, harpsichord), with other sections (f.e. woodwinds, strings, brass, harp and percussion) used as needed.
Edmond de Stoutz founded the ZKO in the aftermath of World War II, and led its first concerts in 1945. He served as artistic leader and principal conductor of the ZKO until 1996. He commissioned many works, including Frank Martin's Polyptyque for violin and two small string orchestras (1973) or Peter Mieg's Concerto for oboe and orchestra (1957).
In 1996, Howard Griffiths assumed the post of artistic director and served until 2006. Muhai Tang, the ZKO's third principal conductor and artistic director from 2006 through 2011. In January 2010, the ZKO announced the appointment of Sir Roger Norrington as its fourth principal conductor, as of the 2011-2012 season, with an initial contract of 3 years. He concluded his ZKO tenure after the 2015-2016 season and now has the title of honorary conductor with the ZKO. In April 2015, the ZKO announced the appointment of Daniel Hope as its new music director, effective with the 2016-2017 season. The ZKO enjoys a particular collaboration in baroque music with Maurice Steger. |