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, P...