The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra ( sv, Sveriges Radios Symfoniorkester) is a Swedish
radio orchestra
A radio orchestra (or broadcast orchestra) is an orchestra employed by a radio network (and sometimes television networks) in order to provide programming as well as sometimes perform incidental or theme music for various shows on the network. I ...
based in
Stockholm, affiliated with
Sveriges Radio (Sweden's Radio). Its principal performing venue is the
Berwaldhallen
The Berwald Hall ( sv, Berwaldhallen) is a concert hall situated in a park landscape at Dag Hammarskjölds väg 3 in the Östermalm district of Stockholm, Sweden. Construction on the building began in 1976 based on a design by architects Erik Ah ...
(Berwald Hall). The orchestra broadcasts concerts on the Swedish Radio-P2 network.
History

One of the precursor ensembles to the current orchestra was the ''Radioorkestern'' (Radio Orchestra), whose chief conductors included
Nils Grevillius (1927–1939) and
Tor Mann
Tor Mann (25 February 1894 – 29 March 1974) was a Swedish conductor.
Mann was principal conductor
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or Choir, choral concert. It has been defined as "the ar ...
(1939–1959). In 1965, the ''Radioorkestern'' was merged with another orchestra from Swedish Radio, the ''Underhållningsorkestern'' (Entertainment Orchestra), under the new name of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache (; 14 August 1996) was a Romanian conductor, composer, musical theorist, and teacher. Educated in his native Romania, and later in Paris and Berlin, Celibidache's career in music spanned over five decades, including tenures a ...
was the newly formed orchestra's first principal conductor, from 1965 to 1971. In 1979, the orchestra took up residence at the
Berwaldhallen
The Berwald Hall ( sv, Berwaldhallen) is a concert hall situated in a park landscape at Dag Hammarskjölds väg 3 in the Östermalm district of Stockholm, Sweden. Construction on the building began in 1976 based on a design by architects Erik Ah ...
.
Since 2007, the orchestra's principal conductor is
Daniel Harding
Daniel John Harding (born 31 August 1975) is a British conductor.
Biography
Harding was born in Oxford. He studied trumpet at Chetham's School of Music and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra at age 13. At age 17, Harding assembled ...
. In September 2009, the orchestra announced the first extension of Harding's contract as principal conductor, through 2012. In April 2013, the orchestra announced a second extension of Harding's contract through 2015. In October 2018, the orchestra announced the extension of Harding's contract as principal conductor through 2023, along with granting him the new title of ''konstnärlig ledare'' (artistic leader). In November 2021, the orchestra announced an additional extension of Harding's contract through 2025.
Herbert Blomstedt, principal conductor of the orchestra from 1977 to 1982, now has the title of ''förste hedersdirigent'' (first honorary conductor) with the orchestra. Valery Gergiev and
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and music dir ...
also hold the title of ''hedersdirigent'' (honorary conductor) with the orchestra. In December 2017, the orchestra announced the appointment of Klaus Mäkelä as its next principal guest conductor, effective with the 2018–2019 season. Mäkelä is the youngest-ever appointment to a titled post with the orchestra.
Principal conductors
*
Sergiu Celibidache
Sergiu Celibidache (; 14 August 1996) was a Romanian conductor, composer, musical theorist, and teacher. Educated in his native Romania, and later in Paris and Berlin, Celibidache's career in music spanned over five decades, including tenures a ...
(1965–1971)
*
Herbert Blomstedt
Herbert Thorson Blomstedt (; born 11 July 1927) is a Swedish conductor.
Herbert Blomstedt was born in Massachusetts. Two years after his birth, his Swedish parents moved the family back to their country of origin. He studied at the Stockholm Ro ...
(1977–1982)
*
Esa-Pekka Salonen
Esa-Pekka Salonen (; born 30 June 1958) is a Finnish orchestral conductor and composer. He is principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and music dir ...
(1984–1995)
*
Yevgeny Svetlanov
Yevgeny Fyodorovich Svetlanov (russian: Евгéний Фёдорович Светлáнов; 6 September 1928 – 3 May 2002) was a Russian conductor, composer and a pianist.
Life and work
Svetlanov was born in Moscow and studied conducting wi ...
(1997–1999)
*
Manfred Honeck
Manfred Honeck (born 17 September 1958, in Nenzing) is an Austrian conductor. He is currently the music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
Early life
Honeck was born in Nenzing, Austria, near the border with Switzerland and Liecht ...
(2000–2006)
*
Daniel Harding
Daniel John Harding (born 31 August 1975) is a British conductor.
Biography
Harding was born in Oxford. He studied trumpet at Chetham's School of Music and was a member of the National Youth Orchestra at age 13. At age 17, Harding assembled ...
(2007–present)
References
External links
Official Swedish-language website of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Music in Stockholm
Musical groups established in 1965
Radio and television orchestras
Swedish symphony orchestras
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