Arnold Schoenberg Chor

The Arnold Schoenberg Choir, founded by Erwin Ortner in 1972, is one of the most versatile vocal ensembles in Austria and since 2006 has been the house choir of the Theater an der Wien. His repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to the present with an emphasis on contemporary music. A cappella literature is of particular interest, but large choral-orchestral works are also regularly on the programme. Important scenic productions were Schubert's »Fierrabras« under Claudio Abbado in the staging of Ruth Berghaus in 1988 as well as Janáčeks' »In einem Totenhaus« under Pierre Boulez in the staging of Patrice Chéreau at the Wiener Festwochen in 2007, Händel's »Messias« at the Theater an der Wien under Jean–Christophe Spinosi in the staging of Claus Guth in 2009 and the the 2016 International Opera Award-winning production of Britten's »Peter Grimes« under Cornelius Meister in the staging of Christof Loy. In 2017 the Arnold Schoenberg Choir was named »Opera Choir of the Year« at the International Opera Awards in London.
Concerts have taken the vocal ensemble to Asia and America. In Austria, it is a regular guest at festivals such as the Wiener Festwochen, Salzburg Festival, Wien Modern, Carinthian Summer or the styriarte Graz, among others. 
The almost 40-year collaboration with Nikolaus Harnoncourt was recognised in 2002 with a Grammy for the recording of Johann Sebastian Bach's »St Matthew Passion«. Other recordings with Nikolaus Harnoncourt include recordings of Bach's cantatas (Grammy nomination 2010), oratorios by Händel and Haydn, sacred music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Motets and sacred songs by Max Reger as well as Gershwin's »Porgy and Bess«. Nikolaus Harnoncourt's last CD production was Ludwig van Beethoven's »Missa solemnis« with the Arnold Schoenberg Choir in 2016. The Arnold Schoenberg Choir collaborates with the Vienna State Ballet for the first time on Martin Schläpfer's production of Haydn's »The Seasons«.