Stavanger Symphony Orchestra

In the past twenty years the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra has won international acclaim, not least owing to the deliberate and consistent use of two different artistic directors for different repertoire. Fabio Biondi is currently responsible for the orchestra’s work in the baroque and classical repertoires, releasing a performance of Handel’s Jephtha with BIS in 2011. Steven Sloane is chief conductor with a particular responsibility for later repertoire. Previous artistic directors have included Frans Brüggen, Philippe Herreweghe and Susanna Mälkki. The orchestra has toured extensively, making its US début in 2011 with concerts in Carnegie Hall and elsewhere. Numerous recordings of 20th-century Norwegian music have contributed to the development and reputation of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra. During the autumn of 2012 Stavanger’s new Concert Hall will open, providing acoustics of top international quality. Since 1990, Statoil has been the principal sponsor of the orchestra, whose patron is HRH Prince Haakon.