Founded in 1968 by David Atherton and Nicholas Snowman, the London Sinfonietta's Artistic Director from 1972 to 1989 was the late Michael Vyner. He was succeeded by the pianist Paul Crossley (1988-1994), and since September 1994 the Principal Conductor has been the young German, Markus Stenz. The London Sinfonietta performs an enormously diverse repertoire, ranging from small to very large forces. Of 233 world premiere performances, over 100 have been specially commissioned, very often for the core group of 16 principal players.
The ensemble enjoys fruitful associations with many of the world's most established living composers, including Adams, Berio, Birtwistle, Boulez, Carter, Górecki, Henze, Kurtág, Maxwell Davies, Ligeti, Schnittke, Stockhausen and Xenakis. It has also fommed close working relationships with the composer/conductors Oliver Knussen and George Benjamin and continues to champion the music of younger generations, in particular such British composers as Simon Holt, Mark-Anthony Turnage and most recently Thomas Adès and Julian Anderson. The London Sinfonietta is a regular visitor to major international festivals and has made over 100 recordings, and has won awards for its discs of works by Benjamin Birtwistle, Britten, Carter, Kern (Showboat), Stravinsky, Takemitsu, Tippett and Weill. Its CD of Górecki's Symphony No. 3 has sold almost 1 million copies worldwide, and has won a growing number of prestigious international awards since its release.