Helmut Müller-Brühl studied theology and philosophy as well as musicology at the Humanistisches Gymnasium in Bruhl. He went on to study the viola and conducting as well as music theory, and participated in master-classes given by the distinguished violinist Wolfgang Schneiderhan at Lucerne. In 1958 he invited the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, founded by the conductor Hermann Abendroth, to be the principal orchestra for the concerts given in his family home, the Schloss Bruhl, following which the orchestra’s conductor, Erich Kraak, called on Muhler- Bruhl to become its chief conductor in 1964. Since then the orchestra has worked with many artists of the highest calibre, such as Maurice Andre, Frans Bruggen, Gaspar Cassado, Jorg Demus, Christoph Eschenbach, Pierre Fournier, Ingrid Haebler, Wilhelm Kempff, Jean Pierre Rampal and Irmgard Seefried, and has toured extensively, appearing throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia as well as appearing at numerous international festivals. Under Müller-Brühl’s direction the orchestra initially recorded for the German label Schwann, covering an extremely wide range of repertoire from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

For a period of 10 years from 1976 the orchestra performed on period instruments, under the name Capella Clementina; and using the experience thus gained, Müller-Brühl re-established the Cologne Chamber Orchestra in 1987, henceforth dedicated to giving performances on modern instruments, but informed by historical performance practice. The orchestra has since established successful concerts series in Cologne, at the Cologne Philharmonic Hall from 1988; in Paris, at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees from 1995; and in Munich, at the Prinz Regenten Theatre from 1997. In addition it has continued to be active in the recording studio, making numerous records of Baroque and Classical repertoire exclusively for the Naxos label from 1995 onwards. Müller-Brühl also specialised in working with young instrumentalists, and nurtured the careers of many of today’s successful musicians.

© Naxos Rights International Ltd. — David Patmore (A–Z of Conductors, Naxos 8.558087–90).