Stavanger Symphony Orchestra

The Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has become one of the most successful orchestras in Scandinavia. In recent years it has achieved major artistic development and attracted an ever greater following, both inside and outside Norway. This success is partly due to the fact that, in the autumn of 2012, the orchestra moved into its new home, Stavanger's new concert hall, built to the highest European standards. Since 1990, the orchestra has been performing with a dual artistic leadership: The Venezuelan conductor CHRISTIAN VASQUEZ is the orchestra's Chief Conductor. The orchestra has had a particular focus on authentic performance practice of the Baroque and Classical repertoire, with Frans Brüggen, followed by Philippe Herreweghe and Fabio Biondi as artistic leaders. This collaboration has brought critical acclaim and international success for the orchestra and some highly acclaimed CD- recordings: Diapason d'Or 2012 (Biondi/Hallenberg), and Diapason découverte and L'Orphées d'Or - Prix Special 2014 (Biondi/Scarlatti's Carlo Re d'Alemagne). This latter was the BBC Magazine's "Opera Choice" in April 2014. A triple-CD with Antonio Caldara's oratorio 'Morte e sepoltura di Christo', also lead by Fabio Biondi, was released during the orchestra's tour to Spain spring 2015.