Profile

The Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra is one of the most prominent symphonic ensembles of Southeastern Europe. It was established in 1959 by the Greek Cypriot composer and conductor Solon Michailides, it currently employs more than 112 musicians and is attended by tens of thousands of audience members every year.

The T.S.S.O. is a major promoter of Greek culture in the world scene, both through international touring and recording activity. Recent touring has included the prestigious Musikverein in Vienna and Elbphiharmonie in Hamburg, while the orchestra has also performed in Italy, Germany, France, China, Austria, Estonia, Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Cyprus. Its acclaimed discography is presented under major international recording labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Berlin Classics, BIS, and Naxos.

Throughout its history, it has hosted some of the world's leading figures in music, including Aram Khachaturian, Luciano Pavarotti, Leonid Kogan, Mstislav Rostropovich, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Odysseas Dimitriades, as well as current top artists including Plácido Domingo, José Carreras, Jonas Kaufman, Elīna Garanča, Asmik Grigorian, Tan Dun, Thomas Sanderling, Martyn Brabbins, Yefim Bronfman, Fazil Say, Simon Trpčeski, Leonidas Kavakos, Augustin Hadelich, Daniel Hope, Julian Rachlin, Mischa Maisky, Avi Avital, and many others.

It regularly commissions music by Greek and international composers, while it is the presenter of the revived edition of the historic Dimitri Mitropoulos competition in conducting and composition.

It promotes chamber music, being the organizer of one of Greece's most successful and well-attended chamber music festivals, in collaboration with the Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki. Its varied educational programs reach thousands of students every year, and are livestreamed to hundreds of schools, including schools in remote areas in Greece and abroad.

As part of its social contribution, it regularly presents concerts in hospitals, prisons, and establishments for people with disabilities.

Following TSSO’s founder and first Director, Solon Michaelides, a succession of eminent Greek musicians have served as Directors: Giorgos Thymis, Alkis Baltas, Karolos Trikolidis, Kosmas Galileas, Konstantinos Patsalides, Leonidas Kavakos, Mikis Michaelides, Myron Michailidis, Alexandre Myrat, Giorgos Vranos, and Zoi Tsokanou. Τhe current Director of the TSSO is Simos Papanas, while Leo McFall is serving as its Principal Conductor.