Tour Dates: 13 May - 22 May, 2011

With Chief conductor Christoph Eberle, and 73 highly skilled musicians from 17 nations, Odense Symphony Orchestra has positioned itself internationally.

Odense Symfoniorkester Biography

The Odense Symphony Orchestra – one of Denmarks five regional orchestras – was established in 1946, but it's roots go all the way back to about the year 1800. From being a theatre orchestra that also played symphonic music the orchestra today is a continuously developing and expanding modern symphony orchestra with 73 permanent musicians and a high level of activity. Concerts and productions with Odense Symphony Orchestra vary in terms of size and genre: from symphony concerts, light classical and opera to chamber music, children/youth concerts and crossovers.

Excellent acoustics

The Odense Symphony Orchestra is based in Odense Concert Hall, which was inaugurated in 1982. Most of the orchestra's concerts are given in the Carl Nielsen Hall, a concert hall with excellent acoustics, a seating capacity of 1,212 and a large 46-stops organ built by Marcussen & Son, one of the world's leading organ builders.

Chief conductor, Alexander Vedernikov

The Russian Maestro, Alexander Vedernikov, was appointed Chief conductor and artistic adviser of the Odense Symphony Orchestra in May 2009. As former music director of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Vedernikov has been credited with rebuilding the Bolshoi Theatre's historical reputation for artistic excellence. Through his selection of music and personal influence, Vedernikov will have a great impact on the Danish orchestra's artistic development in the near future. Vedernikov's contract with Odense Symphony Orchestra runs until 2012 – with obligation to prolong.

December 3rd 2009 Vedernikov will conduct his first concert with Odense Symphony Orchestra. In the season to come, six concerts are already on schedule.

Principal Guest Conductor, Simon Gaudenz

The Odense Symphony Orchestra is also proud to announce that Swiss conductor Simon Gaudenz has been named Principal Guest Conductor starting with the 2010/2011 season for a three year period.

Every season Gaudenz will conduct the orchestra for tree weeks, with an emphasis on the classical repertoire. In addition to appearances in Odense, Gaudenz will conduct the Orchestra in recording session and on tours.

Danish and international artists

Odense Symphony Orchestra performs concerts in company with soloists representing the crème-de -la-crème of both Danish and international artists. Among others the orchestra presents: Nikolaj Znaider, celebrated as one of the foremost violinists of today. Vassily Primakov, recently called a pianist's pianist and the Danish opera singer, barytone Bo Skovhus etc.

Extraordinary talented people

The Odense Symphony Orchestra consists of 73 highly skilled professional musicians from 17 nations. Together they create a rich sound, warm and yet clear, upon which the principal players shape the special character of the orchestra.

Since 2007 Odense Symphony Orchestra has been headed by CEO Finn Schumacker. After eight years as principal tubist with the Bavarian State Opera as well as busy soloist and clinician, Schumacker changed pathway and has managed the orchestras in Aalborg and Helsingborg as well as the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus.

Carl Nielsen International Competition and Festival

The Carl Nielsen International Music Competition was founded in the late 1970's by Odense Symphony Orchestra's then Chief Conductor, Karol Stryja and leader Peder Elbæk as well as by the City's Mayor Mr Verner Dalskov. In 1980 the first violin competition took place, and thereafter it has been held every four years in May-June. In 1997 and1998 the disciplines clarinet and flute were added to the Carl Nielsen Competition. Odense International Organ Competition was founded in the mid-80's by two of Odense's leading organ players, Poul Børch, Odense Cathedral and organist in Sct. Hans Church, Henning Nielsen as well as by Mayor of Odense Mr. Verner Dalskov. The Organ Competition was held for the first time in 1986 organized by the City of Odense. As of January 1, 2009 the Organ Competition was added as a fouth disciplin of the Carl Nielsen International Music Competition. Secretary general of the Carl Nielsen International Music Competition and Festival is Marianne Granvig.

Productions and tours

The Odense Symphony Orchestra's busy schedule comprises approx. 100 productions per year including symphonic and opera performances, recordings and tours. Since it's first tour in 1975, the Odense Symphony Orchestra has played more than 100 concerts abroad: in the USA, China, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Holland, the Baltic countries, Russia, Spain and Sweden.

Discography

The orchestra's discography of about 70 CD's includes a varied repertoire reaching from classical masterpieces to contemporary music, among them several award winning releases.

Award-winning recordings

Chopin: Piano Concertos 1 & 2, with Vassily Primakov, piano and Paul Mann, conductor on Bridge Records.

In 1992 Odense Symphony Orchestra won a Danish Grammy for a recording of music by Frans Syberg, conducted by Tamas Vetö. Further the Odense Symphony Orchestra was nominated for a Danish Grammy in 2007 for the recording of Paul von Klenau: Die Liebe und Tod des Cornetts Christoph Rilke with star-barytone Bo Skovhus on Dacapo.

Outreach

Nowadays classic music is all around us, whether it be in restaurants, supermarkets, lifts, for advertising or as theme and incidental music on television. A great deal of film music either directly uses or draws from the 'classical' tradition; a good example might be classic music on film. As a regional and national orchestra, Odense Sympohony Orchestra is dedicated not only to preserving and presenting great classical music by great composers, but also to provide an exquisite experience to a broader audience.

Christoph Eberle , Conductor

Christoph Eberle was born in 1959 in Hittisau, Austria and studied clarinet and conducting at the Landeskonservatorium in the Vorarlberg and with Otmar Suitner at the Hochschule in Vienna.

In 1986 Christoph Eberle made his conducting debut with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra in Linz and Vienna. Since then he has received invitations from festivals such as the Schubertiade Feldkirch, Lockenhaus Festival and Bregenz Festival and has appeared as guest conductor with numerous orchestras including the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Bruckner Orchester Linz, Northern Sinfonia, SWF Sinfonieorchester, Belgian National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale della RAI, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra, and worked with soloists such as Heinrich Schiff, Thomas Zehetmair, Julian Rachlin, Stefan Vladar, Clemens Hagen, Thomas Quasthoff, Michala Petri, Bruno Leonardo Gelber, Agnes Baltsa, Thomas Allen and Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

From 1988 until 2005 he was Principal Conductor of the Symphonieorchester Vorarlberg and Camerata Bregenz and under his leadership the orchestras consolidated their reputation in Austria with appearances in Vienna, televised concerts, frequent broadcasts, and CD and DVD recordings of music by Dvorak, Brahms, Prokofiev, Beethoven, Mahler and Rimsky-Korsakov. From 1999 to 2003 he was Principal Conductor of the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. During his time with the orchestra he toured extensively with them including twice to Japan. From 2004 to 2006 he was Music Director of the Landestheater Salzburg.

Equally at home in the opera house, in 1989 Christoph Eberle was invited to the Semper Opera in Dresden to conduct Le nozze di Figaro and Così fan tutte, and returned the following year for a new production of Hänsel und Gretel. In 1995 he made his debut at the Vienna Volksoper with Le nozze di Figaro, returning in 1997 for Hänsel und Gretel, and in 1998 for a highly acclaimed new production of Menotti's The Consul. In the same year he appeared for the first time at the Vienna State Opera conducting La traviata. Since 2006 he has worked regularly with John Neumeier at the Hamburg Ballett.

Future engagements include his debut with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and a new ballet production, Juwelen der neuen Welt, at the Vienna State Opera to music by Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Schubert and Stravinsky.