Maestro move: New stick in Sweden
mainThe Norrköping Symphony Orchestra has appointed Karl-Heinz Steffens as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor from season 2020/21. The orchestra’s Artistic Director Henrik Marmén describes the relationship as ”a match made in heaven”.
Steffens, 58, is music director of the state opera in Prague.
The orchestra has been headless for three years while conducting the search.
Seriously good news. This is very good for Norrköping indeed!!
So now two Swedish orchestras have clarinetists as Cheif Conductors – Swedish CO with Martin Fröst and now Norrköping.
ahem…
Chief, not Cheif
Wow, Director Marmen, not a woman conductor and in maxy PC land of Sweden, of all places? ! Huge mistake – you may be out of your job soon. I don’t know which “heaven” you are talking about , but HK Steffens is a mediocre conductor and has nothing interesting to offer to the orchestra. Very uninspired decision , especially at a time when there are several up and coming conductors full of promise. Take a hint from the Oslo Philharmonic , who chose Klaus Makela at 22 years of age.
Steffens is a great conductor,a wonderful musician, and a fantastic clarinet player.
Any music institute in the world would like him to be with.
Congratulations K-H
I think it is a very great decision and K-H has stated in the media that he is very interested in Swedish music, which is super!
Servus, Mr. vo Bahr: Perhaps they are following Osmo Vanska’s example. The last previous clarinetists to lead orchestras that I can recall were Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman, but now I know Ill hear abut all the others. Yhere was an oboist, Rudolf Kempe, in Leipzig, before Holliger and De Waart.