Sinfonieorchester Des Südwestfunks

German Radio Symphony Orchestra

The Sinfonieorchester des Südwestfunks, also known as the SWF Symphony Orchestra, was a German broadcast orchestra based in Baden-Baden and Freiburg. The orchestra was founded in 1946 and became well-known for its performances of classical and contemporary repertoire. It played a significant role in the cultural scene of the southwestern part of Germany, particularly under the auspices of the Südwestfunk (SWF), which was a public broadcasting corporation. The orchestra had a tradition of collaborating with distinguished conductors and soloists, contributing to a rich discography that included both standard symphonic literature and modern works. In 1996, the Sinfonieorchester des Südwestfunks merged with the Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR to form the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg, which continued the legacy of high-quality performances and recordings.