The Critical Orchestra® 2025

The Critical Orchestra / Das Kritische Orchester® unites members of well-known orchestras, who gather on a voluntary basis to offer young junior conductors a globally unique teaching situation. It is the musicians themselves who give the feedback and suggestions to the conductors during the rehearsals.
This interactive workshop enriches the traditional forms of further training for conductors with an artistic exchange between conductor and musician that is not common in everyday orchestral life. The young talents thus benefit from the experience of the musicians from orchestras such as the Staatskapelle Berlin, Deutsche Oper, Komische Oper, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Niedersächsisches Staatsopernorchester, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and others.
Prof. Lothar Strauß is the artistic director of the project. The conductors are supported by a conducting mentor who prepares them in piano rehearsals and acts as an advisor outside of the orchestra rehearsals.