Zurich Opera Orchestra Tickets

One of the leading opera orchestras in the German-speaking world. They are the hidden dramatic voice of every performance, whether it is the fiery passion of Verdi or the epic depth of Wagner. These musicians must possess an incredible variety of styles, from the delicate execution required for Mozart to the powerful force needed for Strauss, and they often switch between these styles throughout the week. Known for their sophistication and exceptional brass soloists, this ensemble is the heart of every magical evening at the Opera.

For many years, this collective was known as the Zurich Philharmonic. However, as of the 2025/26 season, the orchestra has officially returned to its original and current name: Orchester der Oper Zürich (Orchestra of the Zurich Opera House).

The Orchestra's history began in 1985. Prior to that, the opera and symphony musicians of Zurich were part of a unified group called Tonhalle- und Theaterorchester (TTO). In 1985, this ensemble was divided so that the opera musicians could focus exclusively on theatrical productions.

Since the 2021/22 season, the general music director has been the renowned Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda. He is a significant figure on the international stage and also leads the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington. His predecessors include renowned conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Daniele Gatti, and Franz Welser-Möst.

It is one of the busiest orchestras in Europe. Every season it participates in approximately 250 opera and ballet productions. However, the musicians do not just sit in the "orchestra pit", but also give a series of their own symphonic concerts in the famous Tonhalle concert hall.

The orchestra has two unique specialised groups:

· La Scintilla ("The Spark"): an ensemble of historical instruments founded in the 1990s. When Mozart or Handel's opera is performed, these musicians switch to historical instruments to perform the music as the composer would have heard it.

· Opera Nova: an ensemble dedicated to performing new and contemporary classical music.

They have their own label, Philharmonia Records (founded in 2015). You can find their award-winning recordings of Wagner's Ring Cycle and Verdi's Rigoletto on DVD and streaming services.