"Swensen was like a magician wielding his arms and cajoling the notes from his musicians"

Seen and heard international

Photo by Lukasz Rajchert

Upcoming Concerts

Sat 17 Jun
Trilogy, Closing of the NFM season of the Leopoldinum Orchestra and the NFM Choir
Wrocław NFM Red Hall
Details
17 Jun, 18:00 – 20:00
Wrocław NFM Red Hall, plac Wolności 1, 50-071 Wrocław, Poland
J. Swensen SAGA TRILOGY (premiere) Primordial Earth for amplified double bass and 22 strings (2021) SAGA for cello, orchestra and obbligato accordion (2020) Song of Infinity for viola, choir and orchestra (2022)
Fri 28 Jul
Queensland Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven and Elgar
South Brisbane
Details
28 Jul, 11:30 – 13:30
South Brisbane, Cultural Precinct Cnr Grey Melbourne Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia
Beethoven, Egmont Overture Beethoven, Piano Concert No. 1 Elgar, Symphony No. 2
Sat 29 Jul
Queensland Symphony Orchestra: Beethoven and Elgar
South Brisbane
Details
29 Jul, 19:30 – 21:30
South Brisbane, Cultural Precinct Cnr Grey Melbourne Street, South Brisbane QLD 4101, Australia
Beethoven, Egmont Overture Beethoven, Piano Concert No. 1 Elgar, Symphony No. 2
Fri 05 May
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse: The Ring Orchestra
Toulouse
Details
05 May, 20:00 – 22:00
Toulouse, 1 Pl. Dupuy, 31000 Toulouse, France
The American conductor Joseph Swensen took up an unusual challenge: to make this Tetralogy a symphonic Odyssey, with only two solo voices. The Ring Orchestra : a wonderful experience and a sumptuous introduction to Wagner!
Sun 16 Apr
NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra: ad absurdum
Wrocław NFM- The Red Hall
Details
16 Apr, 17:00 – 19:00
Wrocław NFM- The Red Hall, plac Wolności 1, 50-071 Wrocław, Poland
J. Haydn Symphony in C major Hob. I:7 "South" J. Widmann ad absurdum - concerto for trumpet and small orchestra J. Haydn Symphony in D minor Hob. I:80 Sergei Nakariakov – trumpet
Thu 20 Jan
Scottish Chamber Orchestra: MUSIQUE AMÉRIQUE
The Queens Hall
Details
20 Jan 2022, 19:30
The Queens Hall, The Queens Hall, Clerk St, Newington, Edinburgh EH8 9JG, UK
MILHAUD- La Création du monde (16') COPLAND- Clarinet Concerto (16') Interval (20') BERNSTEIN (ARR. RAMIN)- Sonata for Clarinet & Orchestra (11') POULENC- Sinfonietta (28')

About Joseph Swensen

Music Director designate (from 2024-25), Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine
Principal Guest Conductor, the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada
Principal Guest Conductor, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra, Wrocław
Conductor Emeritus, Scottish Chamber orchestra

Characterised by the strength of the bonds forged through long-lasting and loyal relationships with numerous orchestras and their audiences, Joseph Swensen's activity as a conductor extends throughout Europe and beyond, without regard to geographical or cultural borders. Praised by critics in particular for his interpretations of the great romantic repertoire such as Mahler, Bruckner and Sibelius, he is also a musical explorer who ventures into much more experimental terrain when working with smaller ensembles, and whose programmes regularly include 21st century composers alongside works from the classical period.

The result of an exceptional musical encounter and a relationship that has developed over the last decade, Joseph Swensen will take up his new position as Music Director of the Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine at the start of the 2024-25 season.

"Swensen provided two thought-provoking bookends to the two concertos, with the SCO on blistering form. His opening Sibelius Pelleas and Melisande was dark, sonorous and gutsy, brilliantly alive to each movement’s often surreal picture painting. His closing Beethoven Eighth Symphony – so brisk it seemed over in a flash – crackled with glee – and it’s not often you see a conductor having so much sheer fun on the podium."

David Kettle, The Scotsman

Contact

Victoria Rowsell Artist Managment

General Management Worldwide

Aude-Marie Auphan

ama@victoriarowsell.co.uk

+44 (0)20 7701 3219