Werner Ehrhardt

The Cologne-born violinist and conductor Werner Ehrhardt is a regular guest on international stages as an orchestra leader. He received his training in historical performance practice with Franz-Josef Maier in Cologne, Sigiswald Kuijken in Brussels, and in conducting with Karl-Heinz Bloemeke in Detmold. From 1985 to 2005, Werner Ehrhardt headed the world-renowned chamber orchestra Concerto Köln, with which he developed and shaped a characteristic style of interpretation of historical performance practice. In 2004 he founded the orchestra L’Arte del Mondo and also turned to traditional orchestras as a freelance conductor. Since then, he has made numerous highly successful guest appearances with international opera, symphony, and chamber orchestras. With his openness to innovation, as well as his artistic curiosity, infectious enthusiasm, and musical cosmopolitanism in his work with orchestras, Werner Ehrhardt is a compelling personality for the audience and press and the musicians he works with. At the same time, his interest continuously extends far beyond the confines of Western European music. More than 60 CD recordings have been made under his direction in opera, oratorio, and concertante-symphonic repertoire, many of which have been awarded numerous international prizes. Included among the recordings are several rediscoveries of forgotten composers, which have been brought back into the consciousness of the listeners with great enthusiasm.