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The work on the Sixth Symphony began on 24 September 1879, but was interrupted by a revision of the Fourth Symphony. He was finally able to enjoy some success in February 1881, when the Fourth Symphony was praised even by his most ardent opponents. In May he began a Te Deum, and on 3 September (after nearly two years) the Sixth Symphony was finally completed. Three weeks later he set to work on the Seventh. The first movement of the Sixth Symphony is dominated by the rhythmic driving force that we encounter already in the opening bars - the so-called Bruckner rhythm. The symphony has a consistently bright and warm character and is filled with attractive melodies. The first movement is predominantly rhythmic, and the Adagio (F major) is a grandiose elegiac sonata movement, the only slow movement in sonata form in any Bruckner symphony. The Scherzo is in A minor, but the basic chord of that key is avoided in the first 100 bars. In the finale, the Bruckner rhythm reappears and leads the symphony to an orgiastic end.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

Compared to the Fourth Symphony, Sibelius's Fifth Symphony is colorful and vibrant, heroic and accessible. But equally it required more work than the brooding and introverted four. No other work caused him so much trouble. "Walked in the cold spring sun. Had a violent impression of Symphony No. 5. The new one!" "Saw today (April 21, 1915) ten before eleven 16 swans. One of the greatest impressions of my life! ... The sound of the same woodwind type as the cranes, but without tremolo. The swans are closer to the trumpet although the sarrusophone sound is clear. Nature mystery and life's woe! The fifth symphony's final theme." The first movement consists of two parts. The first of these begins with a true pastoral idyll, with signal horn motifs and responding woodwinds. Throughout this part the experience of nature is strong, but in the second part of the movement the music takes on a more scherzo-like character. In the slow movement, the idyllic returns, this time with a graceful, almost rococo elegance. "In the background wander the ever-changing cloud formations of the clarinets, bassoons and horns." The finale's main theme shines through an impressionistic shimmer of strings, which contrasts with the swan theme of the trumpets. And then the doomed, severely isolated chords that end this architectural masterpiece. STIG JACOBSSON

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

Compared to the Fourth Symphony, Sibelius's Fifth Symphony is colorful and vibrant, heroic and accessible. But equally it required more work than the brooding and introverted four. No other work caused him so much trouble. "Walked in the cold spring sun. Had a violent impression of Symphony No. 5. The new one!" "Saw today (April 21, 1915) ten before eleven 16 swans. One of the greatest impressions of my life! ... The sound of the same woodwind type as the cranes, but without tremolo. The swans are closer to the trumpet although the sarrusophone sound is clear. Nature mystery and life's woe! The fifth symphony's final theme." The first movement consists of two parts. The first of these begins with a true pastoral idyll, with signal horn motifs and responding woodwinds. Throughout this part the experience of nature is strong, but in the second part of the movement the music takes on a more scherzo-like character. In the slow movement, the idyllic returns, this time with a graceful, almost rococo elegance. "In the background wander the ever-changing cloud formations of the clarinets, bassoons and horns." The finale's main theme shines through an impressionistic shimmer of strings, which contrasts with the swan theme of the trumpets. And then the doomed, severely isolated chords that end this architectural masterpiece. STIG JACOBSSON

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Symphony No 7 Half Viennese classicist, half romantic, but mostly Beethoven. That's how we're used to seeing him, but he had other sides as well. In both the 6th and 7th symphonies, the folklorist Beethoven appears. In the former he depicts dancing peasants (third movement), and in the seventh symphony he delivers a finale built around a folk dance. Of course, in Beethoven's artful and powerful arrangement - he is incredibly driving, thrusting with weight and force into the chords at an accelerating pace. This restless, rhythmic rondo is one of his most explosive creations. The symphony opens slowly, with upward movements (fast versus slow) contrasted with a pretty, dancing trio. Note Beethoven's orchestral dramaturgy as he strips away the score from the full orchestra until only a flute and an oboe remain. Then the main theme takes over, heralding the 9th Symphony's An die Freude. In the thematic development work, one can often discern the struggle of the lonely against the many, a constantly recurring theme in Beethoven's music. The well-known allegretto in movement two is definitely the symphony's pièce de résistance. This variation movement must have seemed like a very strange animal in Beethoven's time: an evocative passacaglia with a rhythmic figure - one long, two short, two long - pulsating throughout the movement. Above this, Beethoven weaves and develops new parts that increase in strength and scope and then thin out and tone down. The swells are crowned by a couple of solid climaxes. This is Bach and the future at once, the innovative polyphony that would blossom fully in the late string quartets and piano sonatas. The third movement is a scherzo to everything but the name – never have boisterous male laughter (the low strings) and female laughter cascades (the woodwind) been depicted so vividly as here. Beethoven also achieves unusual harmonic effects when he lets the trumpets lie on pedal notes above (reversed!) the melody in the rest of the orchestra. The symphony was first performed on 8 December 1813 together with the almost farcical commissioned work Wellington's Victory, including crevados, cannons and a fugato on God save the King. There is no doubt as to which work is the better.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) Symphony No. 4 in A, Op 90 "The Italian" Allegro vivace Andante con moto Con moto moderato Saltarello Presto No other composer - Mozart not excluded - has written such magnificently gifted music already as a child. Between the ages of eleven and fifteen, Felix Mendelssohn composed thirteen string symphonies, four operas, five concertos and countless chamber music works, in addition to piano and organ pieces, solo songs and choirs. And a great deal of this is still in the standard repertoire worldwide. He was the son of the wealthy banker Abraham, in whose home artists and musicians were constant guests. On Sundays, the banker used to organize concerts at his home in Berlin. Court musicians and the siblings Felix and Fanny appeared as soloists, and in the audience you could not infrequently find the philosopher Hegel or the scientist Humboldt. So it is perhaps not surprising that the talented Felix made such progress already in his boyhood. When he was fifteen years old, he began his first symphony for a full orchestra. He managed to write four more symphonies before his premature death at the age of only 38.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

With his broad musical experience (he played cornet, percussion and violin), Nielsen has always been popular with orchestras: he is a "musicians' composer" whose parts are almost always rich in content and challenging. The Fourth Symphony (1916) is dense and intense, but there are also peaceful islands of recovery. The symphony opens with a powerful, completely surprising first movement, moves through a graceful allegretto (in which the wind instruments initially dominate) and a glowing third movement before ending with a blazing finale in which two drummers duel violently - incited and supported by the rest of the orchestra. This is how Nielsen himself described the symphony: "The title (The Inextinguishable) suggests something that only music itself can express: the elementary will to live. /.../ Life is indelible and inextinguishable, yesterday, today and tomorrow, life was, is and will exist in struggle, conflict, generation and annihilation."

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The work on the Sixth Symphony began on 24 September 1879, but was interrupted by a revision of the Fourth Symphony. He was finally able to enjoy some success in February 1881, when the Fourth Symphony was praised even by his most ardent opponents. In May he began a Te Deum, and on 3 September (after nearly two years) the Sixth Symphony was finally completed. Three weeks later he set to work on the Seventh. The first movement of the Sixth Symphony is dominated by the rhythmic driving force that we encounter already in the opening bars - the so-called Bruckner rhythm. The symphony has a consistently bright and warm character and is filled with attractive melodies. The first movement is predominantly rhythmic, and the Adagio (F major) is a grandiose elegiac sonata movement, the only slow movement in sonata form in any Bruckner symphony. The Scherzo is in A minor, but the basic chord of that key is avoided in the first 100 bars. In the finale, the Bruckner rhythm reappears and leads the symphony to an orgiastic end.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.

The Gothenburg Symphony was formed in 1905 and today consists of 109 musicians. The orchestra's base is Gothenburg Concert Hall at Götaplatsen that has gathered music lovers since 1935. Since the 2019-2020 season, Barbara Hannigan is Principal guest conductor. We are also a proud partner of Barbara Hannigan's Equilibrium mentoring program focusing on young singers at the start of their careers. The title Principal Guest Conductor is shared by Pekka Kuusisto from 2025. Wilhelm Stenhammar was the orchestra's chief conductor from 1907 to 1922. He gave the orchestra a strong Nordic profile and invited colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to the orchestra. Under the direction of conductor Neeme Järvi from 1982-2004, the orchestra made a series of international tours as well as a hundred disc recordings and established themselves among Europe's leading orchestras. In 1996, the Swedish Riksdag appointed the Gothenburg Symphony as Sweden's National Orchestra. In recent decades, the orchestra has had prominent chief conductors such as Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Mario Venzago and Gustavo Dudamel, following Kent Nagano as Principal Guest conductor. Anna-Karin Larsson is CEO and artistic director, Gustavo Dudamel honorary conductor and Neeme Järvi chief conductor emeritus. The orchestra's owner is the Västra Götaland Region. The Gothenburg Symphony works regularly with conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Joana Carneiro, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Christian Zacharias and Anja Bihlmaier.

Esa-Pekka Salonen is both composer and conductor, long known as the leader of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Starting with the 2026–2027 season, he is appointed Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Creative Director of the Philharmonie de Paris. From 2027–2028, he is Chief Conductor of the Orchestre de Paris. He is Conductor Laureate of the Philharmonia Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Honorary Conductor of the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. 2020- 2025, he was Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony. He is a teacher at the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he founded and directs the Negaunee Conducting Program. Salonen also co-founded the annual Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm. He began the 2025-2026 season touring with Orchestre de Paris, premiering his new horn concerto. Other highlights include the Pierre Boulez 100th anniversary program at the New York Philharmonic, residencies at Sveriges Radio and the Bergen International Festival, and concerts with the LA Phil, Philadelphia Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He concludes the season at the Ojai Music Festival in California, which he curates as musical director, and is also director of the 2026 Tanglewood Festival. Salonen has an extensive and varied recording catalogue, both as conductor and composer. Recent releases include the Grammy-winning recording of Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater on Deutsche Grammophon, recordings of Bartók's three piano concertos with Pierre-Laurent Aimard on Pentatone, and recordings of Ligeti's Clocks and Clouds, Lux Aeterna and Ramifications on Apple Music Classical. His concertos for piano (for Yefim Bronfman), violin (for Leila Josefowicz) and cello (for Yo-Yo Ma) have all been recorded with Salonen conducting.