Vienna Art Orchestra
| Company type | Jazz ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Founder | Mathias Rüegg |
| Defunct | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Vienna , Austria |
| Products | Jazz music albums, live performances |
| Website | www |
The Vienna Art Orchestra was a prominent jazz ensemble originating from Vienna, Austria. Functioning both as a large big band and a more intimate combo, it gained recognition as one of the foremost jazz groups in Europe and acted as an official cultural envoy for Austria.
History
Established in 1977 by conductor and composer Mathias Rüegg, the orchestra initially showcased Rüegg's postmodern compositions throughout Europe. The founding lineup featured vocalist Lauren Newton, saxophonists Wolfgang Puschnig and Harry Sokal, trombone player Christian Radovan, tuba artist Jon Sass, and mallet percussionist Woody Schabata. In 1980, the ensemble secured a contract with the Swiss label hatART and embarked on their inaugural U.S. tour in 1984.
Following a brief dissolution in the late 1980s, the VAO regrouped in 1992 with a reduced roster, shifting their repertoire from Rüegg’s original works to arrangements of pieces by American jazz legends Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, while also drawing inspiration from classical composers such as Verdi, Wagner, Schubert, and Satie.
By 1997, the orchestra expanded once more by welcoming younger talent and reintroducing Rüegg’s latest compositions, integrating visual and theatrical components into their live shows.
Throughout its existence, the Vienna Art Orchestra performed over 800 concerts and produced more than 35 albums. Their journey was documented in the 1998 film An Echo from Europe: Vienna Art Orchestra on Tour.
The ensemble earned nominations for the Amadeus Austrian Music Award in 2001 for All That Strauss and again in 2003 for Art and Fun.
On July 10, 2010, Mathias Rüegg announced the orchestra’s closure due to financial difficulties.
Vienna Art Orchestra
| Album | Label | Year |
| Jessas Na! | Extraplatte EXS 15 (Single) | 1977 |
| Tango from Obango | Extraplatte EX 10 (LP) | 1979 |
| Concerto Piccolo | hat ART 6038 (CD) | 1981 |
| Suite for the Green Eighties | hat ART 6054 (CD) | 1982 |
| From No Time to Rag Time | hat ART 6073 (CD) | 1983 |
| The Minimalism of Erik Satie | hat ART 6024 (CD) | 1984 |
| A Notion in Perpetual Motion | hat ART 6096 (CD) | 1985 |
| Jazzbühne Berlin 85 | Amiga Jazz 856 16816 10M (LP) | 1986 |
| Nightride of a Lonely Saxophoneplayer | Moers Music 02054/5 (2 CD) | 1986 |
| Inside Out | Moers Music 02062/3 (2 CD) | 1987 |
| Two Little Animals | Moers Music 02066 (CD) | 1988 |
| Blues for Brahms | amadeo 839 105-2 (2 CD) | 1989 |
| Innocence of Clichés | amadeo 841 646-2 (2 CD) | 1990 |
| Chapter II | amadeo 849 066-2 (CD) | 1991 |
| The Highlights 77-89 Live in Vienna | amadeo 513 325-2 (2 CD) | 1992 |
| standing... WHAT? | amadeo 519 816-2 (CD) | 1993 |
| The Original Charts of Duke Ellington & Charles Mingus | Verve 521 998-2 (CD) | 1994 |
| European Songbook | Verve 527 672-2 (CD) | 1995 |
| Vienna Art Orchestra 20th Anniversary: | Verve 537 095-2 (3 CD) | 1997 |
| Anniversary Volumes | ||
|---|---|---|
| Powerful Ways: Nine Immortal NonEvergreens for Eric Dolphy | Verve 537 096-2 | |
| Quiet Ways: Ballads | Verve 537 097-2 | |
| Unexpected Ways: M Concerto for Voice & Silence | Verve 537 098-2 | |
| Tango from Obango Special Edition | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tango from Obango | Extraplatte EX10-2 A | |
| Two Songs for Another Lovely War / Jessas Na! | Extraplatte EX10-2 B | |
| American Rhapsody | RCA Victor 0902663-227-2 | - | Duke Ellington's Sound Of Love | TCB 99802 | - | All That Strauss | TCB 20052 | - | Artistry in Rhythm | TCB 01102 | - | A Centenary Journey | Quinton Q0104 | - | ART & FUN | Universal Music Emarcy 017072-2 | - | Duke Ellington’s Sound of Love Vol.2 | Universal Music Emarcy 0602498654194 | - | Big Band Poesie | Universal Music Emarcy 986771-0 | - | Swing & Affairs | Universal Music Emarcy 9874469 | - | 3 | Universal Music 0602517228795 | - | All That Strauss Vol.2 | Art Records 1002 | - | Third Dream | Extraplatte EX998-2 | - | Third Dream - Limited Edition | VAO-Shop Extraplatte EX999-2 | }
Vienna Art SpecialSerapionmusic Moers Music 02050 (LP) 1986 Two Songs for Another Lovely War Extraplatte EX ED001 (LP) 1988 Swiss Art Orchestra MGB9201 (CD) 1992 Fe & Males amadeo513328-2 (CD) 1992 Plays for Jean Cocteau Verve529290-2 (CD) 1996 |}Vienna Art Choir
Vienna Art Orchestra Collaborations with Ernst Jandl
See alsoExternal links
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