The Oslo Philharmonic and chief conductor Klaus Mäkelä begin this year’s European tour with royal entourage, when Her Majesty Queen Sonja joins them in Paris for the first time.The Philharmonie de Paris – an international model for contemporary concert hall design and a key reference for plans for a new concert hall in Oslo – will host a landmark event on 20 January at which HM Queen Sonja, Minister of Culture Lubna Jaffery and Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindbo will attend. Her Majesty was also present at the Oslo Concert Hall on 15 January, when the orchestra, Klaus Mäkelä and soloist Lisa Batiashvili performed the tour programme before departure. Lisa Batiashvili, Her Majesty Queen Sonja and Klaus Mäkelä at the Oslo Concert Hall © John-Halvdan Olsen-Halvorsen “The fact that the Queen is accompanying us on tour for the first time is very important to the orchestra. We are delighted by her commitment to music and to the Oslo Philharmonic” says Knut Skansen, CEO of the Oslo Philharmonic.HM Queen Sonja has been the Oslo Philharmonic’s patron for many years and has attended numerous concerts in Norway, but has never before accompanied the orchestra abroad. The visit gives Her Majesty the opportunity to experience how the acoustics and concert experience in Paris differ from the current premises in Oslo.The Philharmonie de Paris is a role model amongst new concert halls, not least because of its educational institutions, rehearsal and activity spaces for all age groups. In this way, Paris, the city of music, also contributes to community development on multiple levels.“We look forward to a guided tour with our guests at the Philharmonie de Paris, which is a great inspiration for our plans for a new concert hall in Oslo. The Philharmonie in Paris has succeeded in combining world-class acoustics with education, youth programmes and social outreach” says Skansen.“We are truly honoured that Queen Sonja joins us on tour. The Philharmonie de Paris is a miracle. It combines incredible architecture with other-worldly acoustics and is an exceptional centre piece for music, not only in France, but for all of Europe. The visit will undoubtedly provide inspiration for ongoing plans for a new concert hall in Oslo” says Klaus Mäkelä.This month’s tour, which visits four cities the Oslo Philharmonic has regularly perfomed at with Klaus Mäkelä, are part of celebrations for his final season as Chief Conductor. In May 2022, the Philharmonie de Paris was the venue for their very first concert abroad together. Since then they have performed throughout Europe and Asia and their return to Paris in January will be the occasion of their 51st concert on tour.The Oslo Philharmonic opens the tour at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, before continuing on to Paris, Vienna and Essen, in programmes featuring Shostakovich’s Symphonies Nos. 6 and. 8, Sibelius’s Lemminkäinen Suite and Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with soloist Lisa Batiashvili (Hamburg, Vienna and Essen). OSLO PHILHARMONIC WITH KLAUS MÄKELÄ EUROPEAN TOUR – venues and programmes January 17 – Hamburg, Elbphilharmonie Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 Soloist: Lisa Batiashvili January 18 – Hamburg, Elbphilharmonie Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite Soloist: Lisa Batiashvili January 20 – Paris, Philharmonie de Paris Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 January 22 – Vienna, Wiener Konzerthaus Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 Soloist: Lisa Batiashvili January 23 – Vienna, Wiener Konzerthaus Shostakovich: Symphony No. 6 Sibelius: Lemminkäinen Suite January 25 – Essen, Philharmonie Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto Shostakovich: Symphony No. 8 Soloist: Lisa Batiashvili |
This is a good idea for our QueenMaxima, she loves classical music and Makele is also the maestro of the Conceerrtgebouw Orchestra!