Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

The Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra dates back to 1765 and is thus one of the world’s oldest orchestras.

Edvard Grieg had a close relationship with the orchestra and was its artistic director during the years 1880-82. Principal conductors since 1985 have been Aldo Ceccato, Dmitri Kitayenko, Simone Young and, with effect from 2003, the American conductor Andrew Litton, who is now the orchestra’s Music Director until 2015. The Spanish conductor Juanjo Mena is engaged as Principal Guest Conductor.

The orchestra, one of two Norwegian National Orchestras, has 98 players, tours regularly, and is participating at the Bergen International Festival on an annual basis. During the last few seasons the orchestra has played in the Concertgebouw, Royal Albert Hall (PROMS 2007), Musikverein and Konzerthaus in Vienna, Philharmonie Munich, Carnegie Hall, New York and die Philharmonie in Berlin.

The orchestra has an active recording-schedule and is currently recording for BIS, Hyperion, Chandos and Aurora. In 2007 it received a special award for its recording of all Grieg’s orchestral music from The Grieg Society of Great Britain

«Andrew Litton has transformed the Bergen Philharmonic into a world class orchestra»
Information March 2009, Copenhagen

Read more about the orchestra on their webpage: www.harmonien.no