Wolff served as chief conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Symphony — known in German as the hr-Sinfonieorchester ("hr" referring to Hessische Rundfunk, Hessian Radio) — from 1997 through the end of the 2005-06 season. He first came to widespread attention as music director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1992; he led the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra as principal conductor from 1988 to 1992 and music director from 1992 to 2000. He moved his family from Germany to Minnesota last year and plans to increase his work the United States.