Orkester Norden in Ice­land

Orkester Norden is one of many co-operation projects of Nordic Lions. The beginning dates to Sweden in 1986-1987 when the then Lions International President commissioned a Swedish Lions member, Lennart Fridén, to find a joint Nordic project for young people aged 15-25. The Orchestra has its orchestra course and concerts in Iceland for the first time, organised by Lions in Iceland.

Each year, Orkester Norden is formed of 40-80 talented young people from the Nordic and Baltic countries, selected after a rigorous application process. Forty-five young musicians play with the Orchestra this year, attending an eight-day course in Akureyri, under the guidance of renowned Nordic instructors, before performing in concert in Akureyri and Reykjavík.

The artistic director is Ilkka Uurtimo, cellist of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra, but Orkester Nordens conductor this year is Jan Söderblom, concertmaster of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Jan is well known in Iceland after having conducted the Iceland Symphony Orchestra in Eldborg in January this year.

Programme
Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor ”Unfinished”
Igor Stravinsky: Pulcinella Suite

intermission

Carl Nielsen: Symfonisk Rhapsodi
Ludvig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F major ”Pastorale”

It is very important for these highly talented young musicians to play for a large audience in the hall. A concert is not a monolog but conversation between performers and audience, and the answer will be a faint echo in an empty hall. We therefore encourage all lovers of Symphonic music to attend the concert.