The Basel Sinfonietta is a full symphonic orchestra specializing in contemporary music – making it a unique ensemble within the classical music landscape. The Principal Conductor of the Basel Sinfonietta is Titus Engel.
Driven by its commitment to performing music in tune with the times, the Basel Sinfonietta has been transcending classical concert conventions since its founding in 1980 and takes an exploratory approach to other genres and cultures in its programming.
The Basel Sinfonietta works with leading composers of our time. The orchestra has commissioned numerous works and has presented more than 240 world premieres and national premieres since its foundation.
In addition to its own series of six subscription concerts – where it presents contemporary music for large orchestra in the tri-border region of Switzerland, France and Germany, often in unconventional venues – the orchestra is a regular guest at local festivals and collaborates with
institutions such as Theater Basel, Kaserne Basel, Kunstmuseum Basel, Museum Tinguely, the Paul Sacher Foundation, and Art Basel.
Since its inception, the Basel Sinfonietta has made its mark well beyond Switzerland, with guest performances and invitations to prestigious festivals across Europe and Asia – including the Warsaw Autumn, Klang Festival Copenhagen, the Ruhrtriennale, Acht Brücken Festival in Cologne, the Salzburg Festival, the International Summer Courses for New Music in Darmstadt, the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, rainy days in Luxembourg, the Festival d'Automne à Paris, Archipel Festival in Geneva, the Festival de Música Contemporánea de Alicante, the Dialoge Festival of the Mozarteum Foundation Salzburg, Festival Musica in Strasbourg, and many more.
Recordings of Basel Sinfonietta concerts are regularly broadcast by Swiss Radio SRF 2 Kultur as well as international radio stations.
The Basel Sinfonietta is a self-governing orchestra. As it is organized as an association, all musicians actively participate in the democratic decision-making process regarding the ensemble’s artistic direction and programming.
The Basel Sinfonietta is financially supported by the Canton of Basel-Stadt, among others.
