Bergen Filharmoniske Orkester - Opus 250 (2015)

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is celebrating its proud, 250-year-long history in 2015 with an anniversary project and CD release “OPUS 250”. This splendid anniversary celebration is about a great symphony orchestra, its instrumental ensembles, and, not least, its brilliant musicians. Through solo concerts, chamber music, and other activities, in addition to what they do best of all as permanent members of Bergen Philharmonic, they represent an orchestra that over recent years has celebrated remarkable artistic successes at home and abroad, on recordings, and in concert halls.

As a part of “OPUS 250”, the musicians of the orchestra have asked their favourite Norwegian composers to compose for them. Thus the four brand new works on this CD were not commissioned by a programme committee, a conductor or a director, but rather by Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra’s own musicians. All the works have taken shape in a dialogue between the composers and the soloists. Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) has the status of a national orchestra, and as one of the world’s oldest orchestras it can trace its history all the way back to 1765. Edward Gardner succeeded Andrew Litton as Chief Conductor in October 2015. They both conduct on this recording, along with the Scottish conductor and composer James MacMillan.

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra is very active as a recording orchestra and has over the past five years contributed to over 30 new recordings. “OPUS 250” is the orchestra’s first release on the LAWO Classics label.