The Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1978 by violinist and conductor Victor Kornatchev (a former soloist in Rudolf Barshai’s famous Moscow Chamber Orchestra). Since 1988 the orchestra has been headed by the cellist, pianist and conductor Alexander Rudin. 　　The orchestra’s wide repertoire includes Western-European and Russian music of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as well as late twentieth-century works, and its performances are characterized by their awareness of historical manners of performance. The orchestra flourishes as an ensemble of soloists, and this enables its string band to perform pieces in association with guest musicians. The Musica Viva Chamber Orchestra is renowned for its presentation of unknown and neglected composers and works, including contemporary music.