Vara Konserthus CANCELED: GOTHENBURG SYMPHONY IN VARA CONCERTHALL

The Gothenburg Symphony, called "one of the world's most formidable orchestras" by the Guardian, has toured the USA, Europe, Japan and the Far East and performed at major music centres and festivals throughout the world. Chief conductor is Santtu-Matias Rouvali who started his tenure in 2017. Barbara Hannigan and Christoph Eschenbach are principal guest conductors since 2019. Already at the orchestra's very first years, the great Swedish composer Wilhelm Stenhammar was appointed principal conductor, contributing strongly to the Nordic profile of the orchestra by inviting his colleagues Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius to conduct their own works. Subsequent holders of the post include Sergiu Comissiona, Sixten Ehrling and Charles Dutoit. During Neeme Järvi's tenure (1982-2004), the orchestra became a major international force. In 1997 it was appointed the National Orchestra of Sweden. During his celebrated tenure as music director (2007-2012), Gustavo Dudamel took the Orchestra to major music centres and festivals in Europe, making acclaimed appearances at BBC Proms and Vienna Musikverein. The list of prominent guest conductors has included Wilhelm Furtwängler, Pierre Monteux, Herbert von Karajan, Myung-Whun Chung, Herbert Blomstedt and Sir Simon Rattle. The orchestra also runs extensive concert projects for children, and regularly releases digital live concerts free on gsoplay.se. The orchestra has been involved in many prestigious recording projects, the latest one the complete Sibelius Symphonies with Santtu-Matias Rouvali for Alpha Classics. Earlier, the orchestra has issued over 100 recordings on BIS, Deutsche Grammophon, Chandos, Farao Classics and several other labels. The Gothenburg Symphony is owned by the Region Västra Götaland.

Qualities that made Christian Zacharias one of the world's most acclaimed pianists have also led to his further recognition as a conductor, musical thinker, writer and artist. His music performer is characterized by a highly individual mix of privacy and deep insights. He also possesses unique skills as a poetic and charismatic communicator with engaging stage presence. Christian Zacharias maintains an active career as an internationally renowned concert pianist with solo and concerto performances around the world. He appears with the world's leading conductors and pushes himself the most prominent orchestras, and many of his recordings have won international awards. Christian Zacharias conductor's career reflects his desire to build long-term partnerships with orchestras and musicians who respect each other. During his tenure as artistic director and principal conductor of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, he made many recordings with the orchestra, which got very good critique. Among them, a series of Mozart's complete piano concertos which won the Diapason die, Choc du Monde and ECHO Klassik award. The recent recording of Schumann's four symphonies and CPE Bach Symphonies Berlin. Zacharias has been the Artistic Partner of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra since the season 2009. He has also been working closely with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, The Hague Philharmonic and the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. More recently, he has devoted itself to the opera and led productions Titus gentleness and The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart and Offenbach's La Belle Helene. 2015 he will direct the Otto Nicolai's The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Royal Opera of Wallonia in Liege, Belgium. He has appeared in several films since 1990, including portraits by Domenico Scarlatti, Schumann and Beethoven, and recordings of Beethoven's all piano concertos. Christian Zacharias has been awarded numerous honors and awards, including the 2007 Midem Classical Award as Artist of the Year. He was recognized for his contribution to the culture in Romania in 2009. In addition, appointed him to the French Government French honorary officers for their efforts. In his role as Artist in Residence at Menuhinfestivalen in Gstaad began Christian Zacharias season 2014/2015 with concerts as a pianist, chamber musician and conductor. This season he will also conduct two tours with the Basel Chamber Orchestra and performing works by Mozart and Bruckner at several concerts with the Stuttgart Philharmonic. In addition, he conducts the Boston and San Francisco symphony orchestras and the Orchestre de Paris. Christian Zacharias is also invited as a conductor to Moscow, and will also give a solo concert at the Pushkin Museum. Furthermore, he will tour Europe with his duet partner Frank Peter Zimmermann and with the Leipzig String Quartet. Christian Zacharias is a professor at the School of Music and Drama in Gothenburg since 2011.