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Danish National Symphony Orchestra

    orchestra
    1925
    © Per Morten Abrahamsen

    The Danish National Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1925 as part of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Today, it is one of the leading symphony orchestras in Europe, performing with the world’s leading conductors and soloists. Since 2016, the Chief Conductor of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra has been Fabio Luisi, who succeeded the late Spanish maestro Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos. Former Principal Conductors and Principal Guest Conductors include Herbert Blomstedt (conductor laureate), Thomas Dausgaard, Gerd Albrecht, Leif Segerstam, Dmitri Kitajenko and Yuri Temirkanov. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra has performed with Anne-Sophie Mutter, Leonidas Kavakos, Renée Fleming, Yo-Yo Ma, Leif Ove Andsnes, Lang Lang, Anna Netrebko, Daniel Barenboim, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yehudi Menuhin and Itzhak Perlman. The orchestra has toured extensively in the USA, in South America, in Japan, China and in most countries in Europe, and performed at some of the most prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Berlin Philharmonic, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and the Musikverein – always with Danish music on the repertoire. 

    The Danish National Symphony Orchestra has a special feeling for Danish music – from classics like Carl Nielsen and Niels W. Gade to very young composing talents. Each year more than 100,000 music-lovers experience the magic of live symphonic music with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra – both in the spectacular hall of DR Koncerthuset (designed by Jean Nouvel) and on the orchestra’s annual tour abroad. In addition to the concert audiences, the orchestra’s popular Thursday Concerts are enjoyed by half a million Danes on radio and TV, and millions the world over tune in when the concerts are broadcast internationally.

    → DR Symfoniorkestret

    • Martin Stauning

      Harp Concerto

      A harp trapped by an orchestra — the new Harp Concerto by Danish sound magician Martin Stauning is an entrancing yet dramatic piece of music.

    • Bent Sørensen

      The Island in the City

      Gripping and immediate and orchestral works born out of Bent Sørensen’s quietly spoken universe

    • Per Nørgård

      8 Symphonies

      A fascinating, comprehensive insight into the symphonic thinking of Nørgård, one of the greatest symphonists of our time.

    • C.F.E. Horneman

      Aladdin

      Horneman adds new lustre to the old fairy tale about Aladdin, taken from the Arabian One Thousand and One Nights

    • Thomas Agerfeldt Olesen

      Der Wind bläset wo er will

      Two of Olesen's major orchestral works of the 2010s – stunning music about life and about being alive: each piece is a world unto itself.

    • Ludwig van Beethoven, Hakon Børresen, Niels W. Gade, Edvard Grieg, Friedrich Kuhlau, H.C. Lumbye, Franz Schubert, Richard Wagner, Carl Maria von Weber

      King Frederik IX Conducts

      The King on the podium – a celebration of the close monarch/orchestra relationships between King Frederik IX and the Royal Danish Orchestra and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra

    • Bent Sørensen

      Concertos

      From atmospheres and feelings to memories and dreams. This recording unites three recent concertos from the Grawemeyer Award-winning composer performed by three distinguished Nordic soloists

    • Allan Gravgaard Madsen, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

      Nachtmusik · For Violin and Orchestra

      Concertante works from one of Denmark’s most iconic composers and one of its freshest new voices.

    • Rued Langgaard

      Complete Works for Violin and Piano, Vol. 2

      Violin Sonata No. 1 accompanied by Langgaard's last violin work, the Andante Religioso, and the Sunday Sonate, one of his most bizarre works

    • Søren Nils Eichberg

      Symphony No. 3 · Morpheus

      The culmination of composer Søren Nils Eichberg's residency with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra

    • Niels W. Gade

      Comala

      The Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Choir rediscover Niels W. Gade's forgotten breakthrough work

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      The Symphonies (Blu-ray)

      Compact Blu-ray version of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to its late chief conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      The Symphonies (Blu-ray)

      The Danish National Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to its late chief conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      The Symphonies (DVD)

      The Danish National Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to its late chief conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos

    • Paul von Klenau

      Symphony No. 9

      The magnificent symphony that was found in a plastic bag in Vienna after 50 years

    • Franz Schubert, Anton Bruckner

      Herbert Blomstedt conducts the Danish National Symphony Orchestra

      Beautiful recordings from the Roskilde Cathedral led by honorary conductor Blomstedt

    • Bent Sørensen

      Sounds Like You

      Bent Sørensen and Peter Asmussen’s intriguing work that brings together orchestral music and drama

    • Carl Nielsen

      Maskarade

      Michael Schønwandt conducts a sparkling cast of today’s finest Nielsen singers and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra

    • John Frandsen

      Requiem

      A moving sacred work for the present: John Frandsen’s magnificent Requiem embraces all expressions in a prayer for humanity

    • Poul Schierbeck

      Fête galante

      A true operatic feast: Schierbeck’s Fete galante from 1931 is lyrical and warm, glitteringly orchestrated and has Denmark’s best singers in the main roles

    • Søren Nils Eichberg

      Before Heaven, Before Earth - Symphonies 1 and 2

      Søren Nils Eichberg grabs the audience with his dynamic and effective mastery of the grand orchestra

    • C.F.E. Horneman

      Orchestral Works

      Horneman’s most important orchestral works, whose rich colours, moods and infectious temperament are a culmination of the Danish Golden Age.

    • Carl Nielsen

      The Masterworks Vol. 1 – Orchestral Music

      The Danish National Symphony Orchestra's hailed recordings of Nielsen's orchestral music, including the six symphonies on both CD and DVD, now beautifully boxed

    • Rued Langgaard

      Music of the Spheres

      Rued Langgaard’s most visionary works form the impressive conclusion to Dacapo’s acclaimed Dausgaard-Langgaard cycle

    • Asger Hamerik

      The Symphonies

      Denmark’s most international 19th-century composer steps out in all his romantic orchestral glory

    • J.P.E. Hartmann

      The Key Masterpieces

      A portrait of the key figure of Danish National Romanticism, who embraced all genres

    • Per Nørgård

      Symphonies 3 and 7

      Sensational recording of Nørgård’s 7th Symphony and his epoch-making Symphony no. 3

    • Rued Langgaard

      Symfonierne

      All Langgaard’s 16 symphonies collected in one beautiful box; a watershed release!

    • Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

      Plateaux

      The latest masterpiece by Holmgreen is a sparkling piano concerto in nine surprising movements

    • Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

      Kronos plays Holmgreen

      The world-famous American Kronos Quartet plays three of Gudmundsen-Holmgreen’s lush works

    • Anders Koppel

      Double Concertos

      Dancing, imaginative music with major roles for saxophone, piano, violin and accordion

    • Knudåge Riisager

      Benzin

      First recording ever of the crazy, beautiful scandalous ballet fra 1928

    • Rued Langgaard

      Symphony No. 1

      The amazing breakthrough work by the child prodigy Langgaard is still Denmark’s biggest symphony

    • J.P.E. Hartmann

      Vølvens spådom

      Old Norse visions and National-Romantic overtures about the heroes of the Viking Age

    • Carl Nielsen

      Orchestral Music

      Prizewinning collection of Carl Nielsen’s shorter orchestral pieces – a revelation

    • Rued Langgaard

      Symphonies Nos. 12-14

      Three symphonies that cover the whole field of Langgaard’s corrosive, schizophrenic view of music

    • Rued Langgaard

      Antichrist

      The SACD production of Rued Langgaard's magnificent doomsday vision. allegorical opera

    • Bent Sørensen, Per Nørgård

      The Little Mermaid; The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town

      Two new Danish masterworks inspired by Hans Christian Andersen

    • Alexander Zemlinsky, August Enna

      The Little Match Girl; Die Seejungfrau

      Zemlinsky meets Danish opera in a double tribute to Hans Christian Andersen

    • Asger Hamerik

      Choral-Symphony; Requiem

      A full-blown romantic masterpiece by Berlioz’ favourite Danish pupil

    • Ole Schmidt

      Concertos

      Grammy-nominated CD with concertos for flute, horn and tuba

    • Rued Langgaard

      Antikrist (DVD)

      Langgaard’s ecstatic vision of doom in prizewinning recording. Indescribable!

    • Sunleif Rasmussen

      Orchestral Works

      First symphony by a Faroese composer – winner of the Nordic Council’s Music Prize

    • Hans Abrahamsen

      Orchestral Works

      Major works by the enigmatic master of contemporary Danish music

    • Vagn Holmboe

      Requiem for Nietzsche

      An impressive, uncompromising oratorio based on the life of Nietzsche – a major work in Danish music

    • Rued Langgaard

      Symphonies 4-5

      ¨The first recording ever of the two very different versions of the Fifth Symphony, as well as the masterpiece Leaf Fall

    • Rued Langgaard

      Symphonies 9-11

      The six-minute Symphony no. 11, Ixion, is intensely minimal music from 1944

    • Rued Langgaard

      Symphonies 6-8

      First CD in the definitive series of recordings of Langgaard’s strange and wonderful symphonies

    • Niels Rosing-Schow

      Archipel des solitudes

      Overwhelming beauty in this French-inspired song cycle to texts by Gilles Gourdon

    • Carl Nielsen

      Symphonies Nos. 1 & 6

      Nielsen’s vital debut and his enigmatic, surreal last work in the genre

    • Friedrich Kuhlau, Niels W. Gade, J.P.E. Hartmann, P.E. Lange-Müller, H.E. Krøyer, Jacob Gade, J. Mikel

      Der er et yndigt land

      Danmark i lommeformat – de største klassiske hits og skønneste melodier

    • Ludolf Nielsen

      The Tower of Babel

      A visionary large-scale work by the Symbolist composer in a world premiere recording

    • P.E. Lange-Müller

      Renaissance

      Danish Romantic music by a beloved master

    • Carl Nielsen

      Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

      Two of the most important symphonies by the great Danish composer

    • Richard Wagner, Ludwig van Beethoven, Edvard Grieg, Niels W. Gade, Hakon Børresen

      King Frederik IX conducts The Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra

      Crown jewels of Danish music: The King of Denmark conducting Beethoven, Wagner and Gade!

    • Carl Nielsen

      Symphonies Nos. 2 & 3

    • Poul Ruders

      Symphony No. 2

      Ruders’ Piano Concerto and his explosive Symphony no. 2 – a tremendous listening experience!

    • J.P.E. Hartmann

      Liden Kirsten

      The beloved ballad opera with a libretto by Hans Christian Andersen. Denmark in a nutshell!

    • J.P.E. Hartmann

      Overtures

      Danish High Romanticism when it is best and most itself – not least in the national treasure The Golden Horns

    • P.E. Lange-Müller

      Der var engang (Once upon a time)

      Songs and music from the Romantic fairytale comedy. A bestseller 100 years ago and today!

    • Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen

      Orchestral Works

      Three key works by the caustic, energetic absurdist of modern Danish music

    • J.P.E. Hartmann

      Symphonies 1-2

      There was something distinctively Danish about the Romantic music by Hartmann

    • Friedrich Kuhlau

      Elverhøj

      Kuhlau’s beloved work, which has been performed countless times since 1928

    • Herman D. Koppel

      Moses

      Considered one of the principal works of the post-war period

    • Per Nørgård

      Luna · Symphony No. 3 · Twilight

      Three of Nørgård’s most important orchestral works from the late 1960s and 1970s

    • Bent Sørensen

      Sterbende Gärten

      The winner of the Nordic Music Counsil Prize 1996

    • F.L.Ae. Kunzen

      Holger Danske

      The first masterpiece of Danish opera – a rescue opera, a fairy tale and a Turkish opera all at once

    • Axel Borup-Jørgensen

      Orchestral works

      Nordic landscape and Swedish poetry meet Central European modernism in Borup-Jørgensen’s intuitive, inwardlooking mood paintings

    • Per Nørgård

      Siddharta

      One of the most remarkable works of recent Danish music, which aroused international attention when it was premiered in 1983

    • Svend Erik Tarp

      Orchestral Works

      Danish Neoclassicism of the finest kind – and with plenty of humour

    • Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Karl Aage Rasmussen

      Symphony – Antiphony · A Symphony in Time

      The prizewinning Symphony-Antiphony by Gudmundsen-Holmgreen and Karl Aage Rasmussen’s modern classic Symphony in Time

    • Per Nørgård

      Gilgamesh; Voyage Into the Golden Screen

      The cosmic opera about the creation of the world – enchantingly beautiful music

    • Gunnar Berg

      Orchestral and Chamber Music Works

      Three works for flute and orchestra by the fervent serialist of the post-war period

    • Per Nørgård

      Concertos

      The international star Pinchas Zukerman as soloist in Nørgård’s violin concerto Remembering Child

    • Friedrich Kuhlau

      The music for the play Elves' Hill

      Already at the first performance, the work sparked spontaneous cheer, and no other performance has seen so many performances at the Royal Danish Theatre

    • Per Nørgård

      Symphony No. 3 · Twilight

      Nørgård with organic development, shrouded in the mysteries of the twilight

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