In June 2026, we received the deeply saddening news of the passing of our partner and dear friend, Peter Readman.
As Chairman, advisor, and close companion of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Peter played an essential role from the very beginning in what has become one of the great success stories of European orchestral history of the past fifty years. He helped a group of exceptional, ambitious young musicians turn their dream into reality: to establish an independent, self-governed, and self-funded chamber orchestra – uniting a shared love of music-making with the vitality of a youth orchestra, and an uncompromising commitment to the highest artistic standards.
During their honeymoon at the Salzburg Festival in 1980, James Judd (then Claudio Abbado’s assistant) successfully persuaded Peter and his newly wed Victoria to join the extraordinary venture of founding the COE. From that moment on, both would become far more than just supporters of the orchestra. There was hardly a soloist or conductor whom Peter did not greet with genuine warmth; hardly a concert hall that Peter and Victoria had not visited at least once; hardly a member of the orchestra whom they did not welcome wholeheartedly into the COE family; and scarcely a project, programme, or new idea with which Peter did not become enthusiastically involved. Together with the musicians and the management, Peter helped ensure that the COE grew into one of the world’s leading orchestras; that some of the most distinguished conductors of our time found – and continue to find – an artistic home there; that internationally renowned soloists return time and again with great joy to tour the world with the orchestra; and that even during challenging periods, the existence of this unique ensemble remained secure.
We remember countless conversations and encounters with Peter – whether at the COE office in London, at the Berlin Philharmonie, or in a hotel bar in Eisenstadt – discussing future projects, long-term strategies, funding opportunities, or simply exchanging ideas while benefiting from his remarkable memory and wealth of experience. A committed European, a passionate lover of music and culture, and a cosmopolitan guided by deeply held humanistic values, Peter was someone who inspired admiration without ever seeking to. His warmth, wisdom, enthusiasm, openness, and cheerful spirit made every meeting with him an intellectual and personal pleasure. We have lost not only an invaluable business partner, but also a loyal and cherished friend.
Farewell, dear Peter. You will be missed beyond words, even as your spirit, your work, and your legacy live on. To your wife Victoria, your children and grandchildren, and of course to the musicians and staff of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, we extend our heartfelt wishes for strength and comfort as they say goodbye. We share your grief and will always keep Peter in a special place in our hearts.
