Basel Sinfonietta

With the world's Western classical music canon in good hands among orchestras around the world, the Basel Sinfonietta focuses on performing (and often premiering) contemporary classical works as well as lesser-heard compositions by noted composers. Founded in 1980 in its namesake Swiss city, this self-governing orchestra is known for its frequency on the European festival circuit, with winning appearances at Lucerne, the Venice Biennale and four appearances at the Salzburg Festival in Austria. While on-stage repertoire includes premieres and original pieces by the likes of Andrea Lorenzo Scartazzini, Stefan Wirth, Sarah Chaksad, and others, the group's small but significant recorded output initially hewed toward more traditional names, from Rachmaninoff to Shostakovich and Weill & Brecht.