The Orchestra of Colours was the last enterprise of Manos Hadjidakis. Its establishment, in 1989, fulfilled his vision for a first-rate orchestra dedicated to presenting interesting works not usually included in standard repertory. The orchestra was to be fully prepared to meet the requirements of extremely varied programs and to get adequate rehearsal time.

Today, in its twentieth year of continuous creative activity, the Orchestra of Colours has grown into a high-quality symphonic ensemble. Its flexible administration and the high musicianship of its members guarantee a perfect artistic result.

The Orchestra΄s appearances are always marked by inventive programs, that include the classic as well as the avant-garde, and very often such works that have either been neglected or too strenuous to perform i.e. Turangalîla-symponie by Olivier Messiaen, the full operas Pelléas et Mélisande by Claude Debussy and The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten, Sympony No 2 by Kurt Weill, Ais by Iannis Xenakis, the concerti for piano by G. Ligeti and W. Lutoslawski, works by T. Takemitsu and so on. The orchestra΄s aim is to bring to light neglected masterpieces of the 20th century, as well as to offer fresh interpretation for older but less known compositions of the 18th and the 19th centuries.

A good part of the Orchestra΄s repertory comprises works by Greek composers. These are either presented in concert-profiles of Greek composers of the past, or as first performances of newly commissioned works by the younger generation.

The 85-member Orchestra of Colours gives most of its concerts in the Athens Concert Hall, but has also won accolades for some highly successful appearances abroad: in Budapest (Spring Festival), Lisbon (Expo ΄98), London (twice at Royal Festival Hall), Frankfurt, Barcelona, and, of course, every year at the international Athens Festival. At the same time, small flexible schemes from the orchestra΄s body appear regularly in chamber music or avant-garde concerts and happenings at the Melina Mercouri Foundation (Plaka), at the Hellenic-American Union (Massalias Street), at the Theatre Chora (Kypseli) and at the Trianon Cinema (in collaboration with the Greek Cinema Centre).

In 1996, the Orchestra of Colours, in collaboration with the Ministry or Culture and the Megaron- Athens Concert Hall, initiated the annual Dimitris Mitropoulos International Competitions for conductors and composers in alternate years.