Danish National Symphony Orchestra
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra was founded as a radio orchestra in 1925 in
connection with the launch of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR), and consists today
of 105 musicians. The orchestra is based in the DR Concert Hall, one of Europe's most
spectacular concert halls, which was inaugurated in 2009. The Concert Hall was designed by
French architect Jean Nouvel and its acoustics were designed by Yasuhisa Toyota.
The orchestra's strong, straightforward musical personality has its roots in its close
links with Danish and other Nordic music. It is the world's leading proponent of Carl
Nielsen's music, which it often takes on tours abroad.
The orchestra recently appointed Fabio Luisi as its next principal conductor. Mr. Luisi is
one of today's most coveted maestros and has received a number of Grammy Awards for his
recordings. He is currently general music director of the Zurich Opera and principal
conductor of the Metropolitan Opera.
From 2012 to 2014, the orchestra's chief conductor was Spanish maestro Rafael Frühbeck de
Burgos. Previous chief conductors have included Gerd Albrecht, Ulf Schirmer, Leif
Segerstam, and Lamberto Gardelli. The orchestra's two honorary conductors are Thomas
Dausgaard (chief conductor from 2004 to 2011) and Herbert Blomstedt (chief conductor from
1967 to 1977). Its principal guest conductors have included Yuri Temirkanov, Michael
Schønwandt, and Dmitri Kitajenko.
Two legendary conductors built the orchestra up in its early years: Fritz Busch and
Nicolai Malko, whom the orchestra honors every three years with the international Malko
Competition for young conductors.
The orchestra has performed under many of history's greatest conductors, including Bruno
Walter, Eugene Ormandy, Leopold Stokowski, Sergiu Celibidache, Christoph Eschenbach, and
Kurt Sanderling. Furthermore, it has collaborated with composers-as soloists and
conductors-such as Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Hindemith, Boulez, Lutosławski, Stockhausen, and
Henze.
Cristian Mǎcelaru
Winner of the 2014 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, Cristian Măcelaru has
established himself as one of the fast-rising stars of the conducting world. With every
concert, he displays exciting presence, thoughtful interpretations, and energetic
conviction on the podium. Mr. Măcelaru came to public attention in February 2012, when he
conducted the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as a replacement for Pierre Boulez in performances
that were met with critical acclaim. Since his Chicago debut, he has conducted that
orchestra for subscription concerts in three consecutive seasons.
Recently appointed conductor-in-residence of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mr. Măcelaru made
an unexpected subscription debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra in April 2013. Since then,
he has conducted the orchestra in two further subscription programs and will lead two
programs this season. Replacing the Danish National Symphony Orchestra's late chief
conductor Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Mr. Măcelaru will have the honor of conducting the
ensemble in Denmark and on a German and US tour in January and February 2015.
This season, Mr. Măcelaru also returns to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and makes
subscription debuts with the Toronto, Baltimore, Houston, St. Louis, Seattle, Detroit,
Milwaukee, and Indianapolis symphony orchestras in North America; the UK's Hallé Orchestra
and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; and The Hague's Residentie Orkest in the
Netherlands.
An accomplished violinist, Mr. Măcelaru was the youngest concertmaster in the history of
the Miami Symphony Orchestra and made his Carnegie Hall debut with that ensemble at age 19.
He received the 2012 Sir Georg Solti Emerging Conductor Award, awarded only once before in
the foundation's history. He participated in conducting programs of the Tanglewood Music
Center and Aspen Music Festival and School, studying under David Zinman, Murry Sidlin,
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Robert Spano, Oliver Knussen, and Stefan Asbury. Mr.
Măcelaru resides in Philadelphia with his wife, Cheryl, and children, Beniamin and
Maria.