The Dresden Residence Orchestra and Musical Director

The Dresden Residence Orchestra was founded in 2013 by violinist and conductor Prof. Igor Malinovsky and has since established itself as a distinctive ensemble within the German and international classical music scene. The orchestra stands for musical excellence, stylistic versatility and an extraordinary sound concept that combines tradition and modernity in a unique way.

The orchestra's repertoire ranges from Baroque to Viennese Classical and Romantic to Modern. Depending on the programme, the ensemble performs in various formations – from finely balanced chamber ensembles to large instrumental orchestras. A special trademark of the Dresden Residence Orchestra are its own arrangements and sonically sophisticated arrangements, which make it possible to perform great works of music literature with a reduced ensemble without losing their musical depth and impact.

The orchestra's special quality lies in the virtuosity of its musicians and their ability to adjust to each other precisely, flexibly and with chamber music sensitivity within these demanding formations. Under the artistic direction of Prof. Igor Malinovsky, his many years of international experience as a soloist, concertmaster and teacher flow directly into the musical work. This shapes the characteristic sound of the orchestra and at the same time makes it a platform for outstanding young talents from Germany and abroad.

Since its founding, the Dresden Residence Orchestra has been staging the year-round concert series ‘Gala Concerts at the Dresden Zwinger – Dresden Residence Concerts’ at the Dresden Zwinger, which has become an integral part of Dresden's cultural life. In addition, the orchestra regularly performs at guest appearances and festivals, including at the Berlin Philharmonic, the Munich Residenz, the historic theatre in the royal seat of Putbus, and at selected open-air concerts.

In 2023, the Dresden Residence Orchestra celebrated its tenth anniversary and can look back on over 2,000 concerts in Dresden. Each concert is characterised by chamber music intensity, outstanding solo performances – especially in the violin and vocal sections – and a close connection to the audience. This creates concert experiences of great emotional power that make classical music lively, accessible and at the same time sophisticated.

Igor Malinovsky received his first violin lessons at the age of six from Prof. Vladimir Milstein in Yekaterinburg. His musical education then took him to renowned music academies in Vienna, Cologne and Zurich, where he studied with Prof. Dora Schwarzberg, Prof. Gerald Schulz and Prof. Zakhar Bron. During his studies, he was a scholarship holder of the Verein Kammermusik am Hochrhein (Chamber Music Association of the Upper Rhine), with which he remains on friendly terms to this day.

At the age of 24, Igor Malinovsky was appointed first concertmaster of the Bavarian State Orchestra in Munich, a position he held until 2005. He then moved to the Komische Oper Berlin in the same role. At the same time, he was engaged as first concertmaster by the orchestra of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía in Valencia.

During his many years of orchestral work, Igor Malinovsky has collaborated with internationally renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Kirill Petrenko and Lorin Maazel. His solo concert activities have taken him to the Zagreb Philharmonic, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Gasteig in Munich, the Vienna Musikverein and the Vienna Konzerthaus, among others. He has also performed on numerous tours in Europe, Asia, South America and the USA.

Igor Malinovsky has won eight international competitions, including the Henryk Wieniawski Competition (Lublin), the Yehudi Menuhin Competition (Folkestone), the International Fritz Kreisler Competition and the International Pablo Sarasate Competition. He was also awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award by the Rotary Club of Kreuzlingen-Konstanz for his outstanding social commitment, in particular for his support of the Mine-Ex project through charity concerts.

In 2009, Igor Malinovsky was appointed professor of violin at the Carl Maria von Weber University of Music in Dresden. He has also been a visiting professor at the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona. Regular invitations to international masterclasses take him to numerous cities in Germany as well as to Spain, Korea and Japan.

In addition to his teaching and solo career, Igor Malinovsky founded the Dresden Residence Orchestra in April 2013, an ensemble of outstanding young musicians shaped by his international experience. The orchestra regularly thrills audiences with concerts in the Wallpavillon of Dresden's Zwinger Palace and on national and international stages.

Igor Malinovsky plays a violin made by Giovanni Francesco Pressenda (1777–1854) in 1826.