Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra (Symphony Orchestra)
Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (String Orchestra)

Founded: 2009 - Bodø and Tromsø, Northern Norway

The Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra

Based well north of the Arctic Circle, The Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra is the world’s youngest and northernmost orchestra. Since it’s founding in 2009, the critically acclaimed orchestra has become one of Northern Norway’s largest and most active cultural institutions, performing around 150-250 opera and concert productions in various formats each year.

The orchestra’s home base is Northern Norway and the Arctic High North, but it has also made its presence felt internationally. Located in two arctic cites, Bodø and Tromsø - and still with the whole northern region as its arena. The orchestra has toured China and Russia among others, and has played at famous concert halls such as Mariinsky in St. Petersburg, Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg and Musikverein in Vienna.

The High North with its nature and history is a strategic fundament for the Arctic Philharmonic. This is reflected in our programming work, the marketing and communications - and all the way to the concert experience. The arctic is the core in both the visual and the artistic profile.

The orchestra strives to be as raw and real as the surrounding nature, and each musician tries to reach the outer limits of their performance and communication with the audience. Together, they search for the perfect unison.

The orchestra presents somwhere around 150 performances and concerts each year, with the orchestra’s musicians alternating between different ensemble formats on a regular basis. The Arctic Philharmonic produces full-scale opera performances and alternates between different ensemble formats on a regular basis. In the course of a year, people can meet the musicians of the orchestra in variations from small chamber groups, as the sinfonietta ensemble or as the chamber orchestra. When they join forces, people can experience the full Arctic Philharmonic orchestra.

The Arctic Philharmonic seeks to consolidate the position of arts in the High North, and the orchestra’s programme reflects its focus on audience development. The orchestra aims to present contemporary Norwegian music with particular focus on the High North, while at the same time managing a broad spectrum of the shared musical heritage.

The Arctic Philharmonic commissions new works and focuses on multiple performances and recordings. The Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra is frequently collaborating with world renown artists and conductors, composers and institutions. They collaborate also with North Norwegian bands and artists from other musical genres, including jazz, pop and folk music, in an effort to raise the profile of the regional music scene, nationally as well as internationally.

Christian Kluxen is new Chief Conductor for the Arctic Philharmonic from January 1, 2019.

Arctic Philharmonic Sinfonietta

The Sinfonietta plays music from the early 20th century up to the present day. As with other activity in the Arctic Philharmonic, the repertoire reflects the northern and Arctic profile of the orchestral organisation. The instrumentation is a string quintet, wind quintet, trumpet, trombone, piano and percussion up to larger chamber orchestral ensembles. Throughout the year, the musicians work with a host of exciting soloists and musical leaders who guest the city and ensemble on a regular basis.

Artistic leader is Tim Weiss.

Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra

Henning Kraggerud is Artistic Director of the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. Henning Kraggerud is an extremely renowned violinist, violist and composer, well known for his virtuosity, creativity and strong communication skills, and these are the same qualities that is brings to his work as artistic director of the Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra.

The Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and Henning Kraggerud have recorded Grieg’s Three violin concertos (Naxos, 2013) and Henning Kraggerud's own, stunning composition, Equinox (Simax, 2015), to be followed up with a recording of Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons in 2017.

The string players in the Arctic Philharmonic under Henning Kraggerud's direction have emerged as one of the leading string orchestras in Europe, and in recent years they have made a name for themselves through recordings and the orchestra´s national and international tours, where listeners have been able to appreciate the orchestra´s energetic playing, communication skills and sheer quality of sound.

"The Arctic Philharmonic strings of Tromsø are as evocative as their leader – Norway now has a great school of string-teaching..." - David Nice, BBC Music Magazine 5/5 stars

Source: Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra Website; Liner notes to the album "Variations - J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations; H. Kraggerud: Topelius Variations: (Simax, 2018)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2019)

Henning Kraggerud: Short Biography | Ensembles: Arctic Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
Bach Discography: Recordings of Instrumental Works

Links to other Sites

Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra (Official Website) [Norwegian/English]