Camerata Nordica

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Photo: Jan Nordström

"Stunning ability to manipulate tempo and texture to conjure any musical style" Washington Post

Listen to Camerata Nordica on "Performance Today" - see NPR page

Visualize an ensemble standing on stage and playing without a conductor, and you'll know the meaning of "camerata". This "crisp, bright, expressive" group, noted for its extraordinary musicianship and unity of voice, is led on the US tours by violin virtuoso Terje Tønneson.

Camerata Nordica, Sweden recently changed its name from Camerata Sweden. As one of Sweden's leading chamber orchestras, its distinctive profile is as an orchestra without a conductor: a camerata. The artistic unity is created collectively on the basis of mutual sensitivity and deeply felt musical intentions. The musicians were selected from the best of Nordic players, who have performed with James Galway, Barbara Bonney, Barbara Hendricks and Barry Tuckwell, and many other distinguished artists.

Camerata Nordica appears regularly on Swedish television and radio.

Camerata Nordica celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2004. The ensemble's intense mode of expression appeals to all kinds of audiences – from classical concert halls to exultant young people of Sweden's main rock festival in Hultsfred.

Terje Tønnesen / Photo: Jan Nordström

Thanks to its high standards, Camerata Nordica tours Sweden and has been chosen to represent Sweden abroad in the United Kingdom, USA, Mexico, South America, Germany, Poland, and the Baltic States. Camerata Nordica has recorded extensively, focusing on Scandinavian composers. In recent years they have released over 12 CDs including the great classics.

Most recently Camerata Nordica has been recognized as the best chamber ensemble of its kind in Sweden and therefore are receiving the support of the Swedish government for their world accomplishments in touring the globe and for their recent nomination for the recording of Anders Eliasson's violin concerto.

The ensemble is based in the county of Kalmar, a location on the Baltic Sea that has deep artistic traditions. In Kalmar you find the Kingdom of Crystal, world-famous for its beautiful glass.

Charismatic leader Terje Tønnesen, who is leading the ensemble on its United States tours, is the recipient of the prestigious Grieg Prize and Critics Prize in Norway. He is also the concertmaster of the Oslo Philharmonic, under the baton of André Previn. Born in Oslo, Terje Tøennesen studied with Max Rostal in Switzerland and later founded the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra of which he is the music director to the present day. Recoginzed as one of the most creative - and busy - people in Norwegian music, the violinist seeks out unique challenging projects as demonstrated by the recent recording with jazz guitarist Terje Rypdal.

January 2007 - please destroy all previous versions