The Athens State Orchestra, known in Greek as the Κρατική Ορχήστρα Αθηνών, is Greece’s oldest continuously established orchestral ensemble. Its history begins in the late nineteenth century with the Symphony Orchestra of the Athens Conservatory, which passed through several names and organisational forms before becoming a state institution.
The orchestra gave its first concert under the name Athens State Orchestra on 28 February 1943, conducted by composer Manolis Kalomiris. Since then, it has occupied a central position in Greek concert life, presenting major works from the international symphonic repertoire while remaining one of the principal interpreters and commissioners of Greek orchestral music.
Across its history, the orchestra has worked with conductors including Richard Strauss, Bruno Walter, Dimitri Mitropoulos, Eugen Jochum, Lorin Maazel, Yuri Temirkanov, Michel Plasson and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Its solo collaborators have included Arthur Rubinstein, Wilhelm Kempff, Pablo Casals, Mstislav Rostropovich, Daniel Barenboim, Martha Argerich and Leonidas Kavakos.
The orchestra performs more than fifty concerts during a typical artistic season, appearing principally at the Athens Concert Hall while also touring throughout Greece and visiting major international venues and festivals. Its activities extend beyond the conventional concert series through educational programmes, youth initiatives, open rehearsals, social projects and performances designed to introduce symphonic music to new audiences.
An important part of its mission is the preservation and promotion of Greek music. The orchestra has performed, commissioned and recorded works by major Greek composers and has developed a digital archive containing historical recordings, filmed performances, photographs and musicological material from its extensive history.
Since October 2020, its artistic director has been conductor Loukas Karytinos. Under his direction, the orchestra has continued to combine the established classical repertoire with contemporary composition, international collaborations and productions that connect symphonic music with theatre, cinema and popular culture.
In December 2026, the Athens State Orchestra participates in the Athens presentation of The Beatles Symphonic Fantasy, performing Damián Mahler’s orchestral arrangements alongside a live band and vocal ensemble selected in association with Liverpool’s Cavern Club.
